Translate the store
Show what the game currency costs in real money and which items are cosmetic, consumable, or tied to progression. Bundles can make the unit price harder to see.
Ask the child what they expect the purchase to change. This reveals whether they are buying appearance, access, speed, status, or relief from friction.
Name the pressure tools
Countdowns, rotating shops, streaks, and friends who already own an item can create urgency. Noticing the design is not the same as blaming the child for responding to it.
Agree that a limited-time label does not require an immediate family decision. A waiting period can make the choice clearer.
Keep the boundary mechanical
Require adult approval at the platform level and remove stored payment methods where appropriate. Decide whether spending comes from a family entertainment budget, earned allowance, or neither.
Revisit the rule after you see the real game loop. Some families will allow occasional cosmetics; others will decide that the pressure is not worth it.