Thank you, good advice. I am not yet sure of going the full monty of doing a complete real-life mock-up, but maybe rather focus on a conceptual understanding of how things should wire together.

As a bonus I also think that if we create conceptual game assets in the pen and paper way first - say a 60 second drawing of her beloved unicorn - she can use some quiet time later to make it more elaborate.

[random advice from the internet]

Focus on fun and play.

Go where that leads.

Be a peer. Don’t lecture.