What Do Parents Need to Know About Tonies?

Just what, exactly, are Tonies?

No, I’m not talking about the prestigious theatre awards. I’m talking about the new, collectable figurines that seem to be popping up in stores and social media feeds more and more.

In a nutshell, Tonies are like physical audiobooks—if those books were designed to double as a children’s toys. They work by being paired with a Toniebox, a soft, squishy, radio-esque cube made just for kids. Simply place your Tonie on top of the Toniebox, and the characters will whisk your little ones away into an imaginative world of story and song.

It’s a really fun concept, but one that comes with a few caveats for Christian families. But first, let’s jump into the pros of Tonies.

Toniebox Pros

It’s hard to find screen-free entertainment options for kids these days, and that’s one reason why Tonies have become so popular. Once they’re set up, Tonies and the Toniebox are completely screen free. Parents download the MyTonies app onto their phones for that initial setup and WiFi pairing. Thereafter, they can use the app to set a max volume for their Toniebox or even disable some of the manual controls. But otherwise, no screens are necessary.

Tonies are truly designed for children. The Toniebox itself is a colorful cube made of material “soft enough to snuggle. Tough enough for rough play.” The platform where the Tonies connect is magnetic, to help keep the Tonies in place while your child listens. But if the Tonie falls off, it automatically pauses until your kiddo puts it back in place. Tilting or tapping the box controls its rewind and fast-forward features. But the Toniebox’s “ears” are the only buttons: press the big ear to turn the volume up; press the small ear to turn it back down.

Depending on the Tonies you purchase, content is curated for storytime, playtime or even bedtime. Tonies tell stories and sing songs, but they also teach your littles new words. And “Clever Tonies” are purely focused on education. Some Tonies double as nightlights, too, and since the Toniebox is screen free, there’s no nasty blue light to keep your children up as you’re trying to wind them down.

Each Tonie also has a suggested age range for the content it features (3-4, 5-6 or 7-8). The Toniebox shouldn’t be operated by children under 3 years of age due to choking hazards, but those younger kiddos can still enjoy Tonie content with adult supervision.

Tonies come in a variety of characters, from Disney princesses to Dr. Seuss favorites to Paw Patrol pups and more. So you can pick characters your child already knows and loves. Or, if they aren’t familiar with those pop-culture standbys, you can pick Tonies based on storybook characters or select one of the original characters created by the company.

Finally, you can also purchase “Creative-Tonies.” With these, you use the MyTonie app to record up to 90 minutes of custom content. That means you can read books in your own voice, sing some songs or even record stories from the Bible. It’s a great idea for parents who travel for work a lot or don’t get home in time to put the kids down for bed. It’s also perfect for family members who live further away and don’t get to visit as often.

Now, these are all some great perks—especially for parents looking at screen-free options. Unfortunately, Tonies aren’t entirely content free.

Toniebox Cons

Christian parents should note that the Tonies aim to be LGBT-inclusive. There’s a PRIDE rainbow Tonie available for purchase. And per the Tonies’ website description, it teaches kids LGBT history and vocabulary, including gender expression and pronouns. And other Tonies might tell LGBT stories, too.

Right now, Tonies aren’t really aimed toward older kids. So once your child hits about 3^rd grade, they may find the Toniebox boring, especially if it’s in competition with screens.

There are already hundreds of Tonies out there, with more sure to come. Per the Tonies website, “Collecting is part of the fun!” But that actually presents a problem for parents on a budget. Most Tonies run between $17.99-$19.99 (not including taxes or shipping fees). So even if you only purchase, say, 10 Tonies, that’s still $200 easy. And the Toniebox itself is another hundred bucks—not to mention other available (but optional) accessories such as carrying cases and headphones.

There’s quite a bit for parents to weigh here. On one hand, it’s a screen-free option that caters and appeals to kids. On the other, your child may get exposed to LGBT content or other questionable stories (some Tonies may include tales about magic or evolution).

You can bypass that, of course, by exclusively purchasing Creative-Tonies and recording content yourself, but then there’s the time constraints. Some families just might not have the time to record 90 minutes of stories and songs for their kids. And for that matter, some families may not want to drop well over $100 for a piece of technology that their kids might outgrow.

We hope this information helps as you make your decision about the Tonies. Check pluggedin.com for more reviews on media, entertainment and technology. Follow Plugged In on Facebook and Instagram for updates on everything you need to know to be a screen-savvy family. And hey, check out our book, too: Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family.