Lately, I’ve been super busy between work, chores, and feeding the 3 kids, so keeping them entertained has taken a back seat. I’ll admit it, I relied on TV shows too often and felt guilty about the kids being stuck to their screens. I’m well aware that I need to be more engaged with them at this precious time in our lives.
So, for my oldest daughter’s birthday, I wanted to get her something she’d love — something without a screen.
In my search, I kept seeing all the rave reviews about the Toniebox. Initially, I thought it was just one more trendy gadget or a toy for children. It promises an interactive storytelling experience that brings books to life with little figurines and audio adventures — and no screens.
So, I picked up a Toniebox for my oldest daughter’s birthday to see if it could keep her entertained. And the rest is history.
Things I Wish I’d Known About The Toniebox And Why It’s The Perfect Gift:
1- It’s a screen-free device that will keep my kids entertained
The Toniebox is a musical storybox that brings beloved characters and tales from family favourites like Paddington Bear, The Gruffalo, CoComelon, Paw Patrol — and more — to life.
This brilliant device captivates her so much more than her other toys. In fact, research shows that children engage with the Toniebox 148 times more than other toys. It’s a lasting treasure that offers enchanting, educational fun.
2 – It’s so easy to use
The Toniebox is delightfully simple — no complicated instructions or difficult setup involved. Once it’s connected to Wi-Fi, it’s ready for action. All my kids have to do is place a Tonie figurine on top of the box. Then they simply pop, tap, tilt, and squeeze the ears on their Toniebox to explore a world of enchanting stories and songs.
3 – It’s totally kid-proof
When we’re selecting new stuff for the kids, we always wonder ” How long before this breaks?” But the Toniebox is soft, squishable, and 100% kid-proof. It’s built to handle anything that kids throw at it — getting flung across the room or even a tumble down the stairs.
4 – My kids can take it anywhere
The best part? It’s totally portable, with 7 hours of battery life and a headphone jack; the kids can bring it on long car rides and flights. And with the headphones I don’t have to listen to the same story for the 100th time.
5 – It’s helps my kids development
Unlike most toys, the Toniebox has many developmental benefits. The National Literacy Trust notes that listening to audiobooks is both entertaining and educational in that it boosts vocabulary and literacy skills — so my kids are not just having fun; they’re learning, too.
6 – It improves bedtime routines
Beyond its educational perks, the Toniebox has been instrumental in establishing a soothing bedtime routine for my youngest. With its calming wind-down tales and white noise stories, it helps them relax and drift off to dreamland.
7 – It’s more than just stories
The Toniebox isn’t just for stories. My kids have so much fun singing along to all the famous songs from The Jungle Book, Frozen, Moana, The Little Mermaid, and Maestro. My oldest adores the speech-based, factual, and detailed content of the Nat Geo series.
The Tonies themselves are beautifully handcrafted, so they look terrific arranged on a dresser or bookshelf in the kids’ room — it makes the decor so much cuter. And let’s not forget about the Creative Tonies, which provides up to 90 minutes of recordable space. It’s a truly special way to preserve beloved memories, stories, or jokes, and cherish family moments.
8 – They’re totally affordable
Each bundle offer the TonieBox and a specific number of Tonies. We went with the Full Experience (Toniebox + 7 Tonies ) for £149.88 for my oldest daughter — totally worth it for a birthday prezzy that will totally deliver. And we picked up some extra individual Tonies for £14.99 each.
9 – It’s a gift that keeps on giving
When my oldest received her Toniebox, of course we shared it with my youngest who immediately demanded Tonies for his birthday. The only issue we’ve had with the Toniebox is when they fight over it, so we got my youngest his own Toniebox. Now, I’ll never be stuck with what to give them for holidays and birthdays. We have a seemingly endless wishlist of Tonies!
10 – It’s the ultimate investment
My kids are absolutely besotted with the Toniebox, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s grown with my kids, keeping them educated and entertained sans screens.
Now, we all eagerly look forward to bedtime stories — they’re the highlight of our day! What a joy for our family, the Toniebox has proven to be a great investment, continually adding value to our daily routine.
Conclusion
I’m thrilled we chose the Toniebox for the kids’ birthdays — it’s a real game-changer. The kids are dialing back on screentime, and while we’re not quite ready to give it up entirely — Saturday movie nights are the best!
Reflecting on it, I realise there are so many things I wish I’d known earlier about the Toniebox, but I’m so glad we took the plunge. It’s made such a positive impact on our family time and continues to enrich our lives.