Family screen rule
“If a screen asks for money, a password, a code, your name or a photo, stop and show me. You are not in trouble. Only a grown-up presses the final buy button.”
Do this next
- Put a gate on buying. Turn on adult approval or purchase checks. Keep the password or device code private.
- Remove easy payment routes. Take off stored payment details if you do not need them. Use a child account where the service offers one.
- If money was spent, act quickly. Check the store receipt. Use the official report or refund route. Do not promise the money will come back.
If a payment has happened
- If you know it was a child’s mistaken purchase, use the app store or game’s official help route.
- If you do not recognise the payment, contact the bank or payment provider promptly as well.
- Keep receipts and dates. Never share a one-time code with someone who contacts you.
Use the official controls
On Apple devices, Screen Time and Ask to Buy can block or require approval for purchases. On Google Play, set purchase approval and verification for the child’s account and device. Controls can change, so follow the current official steps for the device you use.
A PEGI age label does not mean a game has no paid extras. Look for the in-game purchases label too.
Later: turn game money into pounds
Choose one offer in the game. Read the pound price together. Say: “This many game coins costs £4.99.” You do not need to buy it. Compare it with one real item or a saving goal your child already knows.
If reading or talking is hard
Use one red STOP card beside the device. Practise handing the device to a grown-up. Your child can point, sign, use AAC or bring the card. Praise showing you quickly, not perfect recall.
Why this matters
Ofcom’s 2026 report found that online gaming is already common among young children, and many gaming parents worry about pressure to buy. The under-eight figures are reported by parents. They show a real safety need, not that every child will spend.