What should we check when a child shows a purchase request?

Identify what the request would buy

Research context: Ofcom reported that 88% of children ages 3–7 and 99% of children ages 8–17 went online in 2025. Source: Ofcom: Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes 2025–26.

Ask the child to show the item without completing the transaction. Read the product name and the feature it unlocks. Check whether the purchase is tied to one profile, one device, or a household arrangement as described by the provider. Do not infer that an item is shared because another purchase in the same app was shared. If the wording is confusing, pause and find the official explanation before entering an approval code or using a confirmation button.

Read the ongoing terms

Look for the current price, currency, billing period, and any trial conditions. Discuss the total commitment in the language the child understands, while leaving the adult responsible for the financial decision. A free installation does not answer whether a later feature costs money. Avoid promising a refund or cancellation outcome based on another store’s policy. If you approve a subscription, record the provider and renewal arrangement in your household’s ordinary purchase records.

Make the result specific

Explain what has been approved and what still requires another request. For example, buying the base app may not include optional items inside it. If you decline, name the reason and a possible alternative without blaming the child for asking. After an approved transaction, verify the intended item appears in the correct account and keep the receipt through the appropriate adult channel. If it does not appear, investigate that purchase with the provider rather than buying it again immediately to see whether the second attempt works.