Music or audio-based stories like podcasts are something that almost everybody enjoys, young or old. They’re a great way to relax after a stressful day or tounwind after some exciting activities.
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Listening experiences are also great for children - it helps develop creativity, has a great impact on their attention spans, and is also simply a great way for them to spend some screen-free time enjoying their favorite tunes either from popular shows or simply great albums that they like. However, regular speakers might be a little too complicated - not to mention dangerous - for the little ones to operate. They have a lot of buttons to push (and maybe break off), different holes to squeeze something in, and ports to explore.
Plus, there is no way your child would be able to play some tunes on their own. That’s where things like Tonies and Tonieboxes come into play. They’re frequently mentioned as some of the hottest holiday toys of 2023, and they even topAmazon’s Best Storytelling Toys list for kids.If you want to learn more about these viral toys seen all over your TikTok For You Page, including how they work, read our guide.
What are Tonieboxes and how do they work?
Tonieboxesare child-friendly audio players that make it easy for your child to play their favorite tunes and listen to stories whenever they wish. In general, it allows them to have a much easier time interacting with audio than using a regular Bluetooth speaker. It’s a small, cube-shaped device that comes covered in a fabric lining, which protects the speaker and covers all the sharp edges and makes it soft to hug. The two main characteristics of the Toniebox itself are obviouslythe speakerhalf but also the touch box at the top of the device.
Toniebox starter set (featuring Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Playtime Puppy)
The Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set features characters like Elsa, Anna, and Olaf in a light blue design. It’s a screen-free, creativity-enhancing experience with a range of stories and songs. The Playtime Puppy Tonie in this set even has tunes like “Wheels on the Bus” and “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” The bundle provides a charging station for the Toniebox, too, which offers up to 7 hours of battery life.
While the speaker part is obvious, it’s the upper touch surface that is creating the magic of the Toniebox. It’s a place where you put Tonies, which in turn makes the Toniebox play audio that is “recorded” onto Tonies. This way, the kids have to physically interact with their Toniebox in order to play sounds - just like putting in a CD or setting up a vinyl record - but the entire action is much safer and accompanied by cool figurines that are more engaging. Kids can mix up listening to music or stories via the act of playing with the figurines or the Toniebox itself.
What are Tonies and can you add your own content?
“But what are those Tonies?” might you ask. Well, they’re crucial to Toniebox’s magic. On the one hand, Tonies are just toy figurines. But they’re also techy.
NFC figurines with audio
There are a lot of characters you can get - Disney heroines and villains,childhood mascots, and more. They are eye-catching and work great as small toys to add to your child’s collection. However, Tonies have an ace up their sleeve: NFC technology. Each Tonie figurine, when placed on a Toniebox, activates audio playback, much like a physical record.
The Toniebox, an essential part of this system, reads the NFC chip embedded in each figurine and plays audio content associated with that specific character. This feature is particularly enchanting with themed Tonies, such as Disney princesses, which play songs and stories from their respective movies. This integration of tangible toys with digital content creates an engaging and magical experience, combining the charm of physical play with the convenience and versatility of digital media.
Record your own audio
That’s not all though. You can also get yourself what’s called a Creative-Tonie. These are, basically, your own, customizable Tonies that you can record whatever you want on, making them a great starter for your child’s Tonie collection. What’s more, you are not limited to just filling them up with music from your child’s favorite shows or musicians. Tonies can also contain stories, so they are a great tool to keep your child entertained, be it by music, or by playing some great narration to spice up their day.
The contents of these Creative-Tonies can be changed at any time, so you don’t need to worry about your kids getting bored of the one story; you’re able to simply swap it out for another one in just a few clicks. Each Creative-Tonie allows you to store up to 90 minutes of personalized content, so you can record anything your heart desires - even yourself reading a bedtime story.
How to set up a Toniebox with your phone
If you’re interested in getting your child a Toniebox, or you’ve already pulled the trigger - the next part of the process is setting up your Toniebox to get it ready for your children. Here’show to set up your Toniebox, step by step.
Get the My Tonies app
Start the setup process
Enter pairing mode
Connect to Wi-Fi
How to set up a Toniebox with your desktop
you’re able to also set up the Toniebox while on your PC or Mac. Here’s how:
Go to the My Tonies website
How to setup and use a Tonie with a Toniebox
Once you’veset up your Toniebox, you need to set up your Tonies - whether they are Creative-Tonies with your own sounds or Tonies with songs and stories from other animations or media. Here’s how to use either one with your Toniebox.
With Creative-Tonies, you can also set them up with your own music and recordings. Here’s how to do it:
Open My Tonies app
Find your Creative-Tonie
Record your audio
What are some Tonies available to buy now?
Tonies are hand-painted figurines, each distinct in their design, serve as both a playful toy and an interactive audio experience. When placed on a Toniebox, they unlock a variety of audio content ranging from classic fairytales and popular children’s songs to educational stories. There are dozens and dozens of Tonies to choose from, including officially licensed partners such as Disney. You can get characters from franchises such as Frozen and Moana, or even timeless classics like The Velveteen Rabbit and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Best Amazon Echo devices for kids: Smart speakers, displays, and lamps
If you’re looking for a smart speaker or display for your little one, Amazon has a line of devices designed with children’s taste in mind.
Tonies on Amazon
Here are some of the best Tonies we’ve spotted on Amazon:
