I GM a game of D&D with my cousins, who are 10 and 11 years old. This happens:
Me: Let's fill your character sheet. Which race do you want?
Eleven-year-old: What are the available choices?
Me: [list available races]
11: What do they look like? Me: [Show the images]
11: How does it work?
Me: [Read 16 pages of description]
11: Let's try Dragonborn.
Me: Ok, let's pick class...Repeat the same routine as above but more pages since we there's more class to explain.
Me: Ok, let's choose your trained skill.
11: What does that do?
Me:[Explains the skills]
11:Ok, let's pick— wait, what does each skill do?
Me: [Explains again]After explaining and explaining...
Me: Ok, job done. I will fill in the character sheet for you. (Looks at the ten-year-old). You heard everything I just explained, right?
10: Sorry, what? I wasn't listening.
After 1.5 hours, I have read 72 pages loudly, just for filling character pages. Yessss.
How do I prevent this?
Four requirements for a solution:
Remember, we're looking at young players. I can't ask them to stay focused.
We made this game with a snap judgement, so it will be good if no preparation needed.
No D&D character builder. Let me make this simple and painless. I'm poor.
They're new players. No knowledge at all. This is their first game.