If you’re a parent, then you’ve likely heard of the Toniebox.
You’ve seen the commercials and you’ve scrolled past the social media ads, but like most parents today, you can’t seem to figure out what all the hype is about.
Is it just a speaker for kids? Does it have any unique features? How can it benefit a child? Don’t worry, we’re going to answer all of your questions about the Toniebox below.
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The Toniebox is an award-winning audio entertainment system designed for young kids above the age of three. It was originally launched in the UK in 2016, but was introduced to the US in 2020.
The device comes with two working components: the Toniebox, which is the speaker, and the Tonies, which are small figurines that house audio files, such as songs and stories.
The audio starts to play only after a Tonie is placed on top of the Toniebox.
Playing into its kid-friendly design, children can change the volume by pinching the “ears” on the box. They can also skip a track by tapping the sides, or fast forward and rewind by tilting the device.
Each Tonie is equipped with pre-loaded content related to that character. For example, the Elsa Tonie from Disney’s Frozen will sing songs like, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Let It Go.”
Parents can also find Tonies for audiobooks, bedtime stories, and Creative-Tonies, which allow parents and children to record their own content.
Can the Toniebox actually boost childhood development?
Kids love to sing their favorite songs and will never turn down a good story, but the Toniebox does so much more than just entertain your child.
It also teaches them!
According to one study, conducted by FUNdamentally Children in 2023, children who used the Toniebox regularly saw an improvement in attention, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and verbal fluency.
The study took place over a 12-week period and evaluated 100 children between the ages of two and five. The results were overwhelmingly positive.
“Regular engagement with Tonies and the Toniebox not only enhances bedtime routines, but also contributes to cognitive growth, reading comprehension, and strengthened family bonds,” said Dr. Amanda Gummer, CEO of FUNdamentally Children.
The study found that 53% of children improved their attention rating, 66% of children improved their vocabulary level, and 60% of children improved comprehension scores.
“This blend of technology, play, and connection has the potential to revolutionize how families approach storytelling and interactive learning,” Gummer added.
What else do parents like about the Toniebox?
Some of the things parents like most about the Toniebox is how versatile it is, how much use their kids get out of it, how durable it is, the seven-hour battery life, and how kid-friendly the controls are.
And it’s perfect for parents trying to reduce screen time, while still providing the entertainment kids want.
They can sing-along to their favorite tunes while coloring in their favorite book, or listen to their favorite story without sitting in front of the TV. And they’re available in several other languages.
It also entertains kids while doing homework, completing chores, and during long car rides.
With Creative-Tonies, you can record up to 90 minutes of your own content, which can then be played like any other Tonie.
This is perfect if you want to record a bedtime story with grandma or grandpa’s voice, or do a family sing-along of your child’s favorite tunes. You can also record to-do lists and reminders.
And even on the days your child doesn’t want to listen to their Toniebox, the Tonies double as tiny toy characters that they can play with like they would any of their other toys.
Some parents aren’t giving in to the hype
While millions of parents have already introduced their children to a Toniebox and many more are going to follow this holiday season, not everyone is aboard the Tonie hype train.
Some parents found that it entertained their child for a couple of weeks before losing interest. At a certain point, it became just another toy that sits in the toy box for months at a time.
Other parents were unimpressed by the content. While some Tonies use the original soundtracks to shows and movies, others use different versions from different singers.
The price, specifically the price of the individual Tonies, and how clunky the box is were also common complaints among parents.
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Whether you’re aboard the hype train or not, one thing’s for certain: the Toniebox isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.