What is the Toniebox? What are Tonies?
The Toniebox is an audio system for children made by tonies® that is making a splash at The Red Balloon Toy Store. This innovative toy uses audio storytelling to introduce pre-readers and developing readers to the wonders of narrative. The music and stories that come with each Tonie make a great supplement to playtime.
What does the Toniebox do?
The Toniebox is a digital audio player for children. The cloud-based system combines songs and stories with a unique element of play in an intuitive and durable unit for children. The Toniebox was created with the intention of making it the perfect first audio system for kids. It's easy to use, engaging, and best of all, a lot of fun! Toniebox Starter Sets come in several colors: red, light blue, purple, gray, green and pink!
How does the Toniebox work?
The Toniebox is simple to use. Just place a Tonie character on the box and the audio will begin to play. There are no buttons or screens, making it an ideal toy for young children. Choose from a wide variety of different Tonies, each with their own collection of songs and stories. The Toniebox is also surprisingly intuitive to control.
Volume
Children simply squeeze the ears to control the volume of the Toniebox. Squeeze the large ear to increase the volume, and squeeze the small ear to lower it.
Skip/Go Back
With the speaker facing you, slap the right side of the Toniebox to skip forward, and slap the left side to go back.
Fast Forward/Rewind
Tilt the Toniebox to the right to fast forward and to the left to rewind.
Pause/Play
Lift the Tonie off of the Toniebox to pause, and put it back on to resume. It's easy!
Can the Toniebox work without Wifi?
The Toniebox needs Wifi for initial setup and when using a new Tonie for the first time. When a new Tonie is placed on top, the square beneath the Tonie will glow blue until the content is fully downloaded. Once the square glows green, that Tonie will be useable on the go!
What are Tonies?
Tonie characters are little figurines that each hold a specific audio collection. You can think of the hand-painted characters like physical playlists. There are two types of Tonies: Content Tonies, often referred to as just Tonies, and Creative-Tonies.
Content Tonies
These collectible figurines come pre-loaded with 16-50 minutes of songs and stories; perfect for little attention spans. Disney Tonies average about a 22 minute runtime while musical content Tonies run 40-50 minutes.
Creative-Tonies
Creative-Tonies are blank figurines that can be loaded with 90 minutes of your own voice, music, or sounds. They're great for making custom recordings from loved ones, like Grandma or Grandpa, or for recording your child's favorite bedtime story. You can also use Creative-Tonies to play reminders, to-do lists, or anything else you might need a little help remembering. This is all made possible by the mytonies app.
What is the mytonies app?
The mytonies app is a free app that allows parents to upload content to Creative-Tonies and manage the settings of their child's Toniebox. With the mytonies app, parents are always in control. The app allows parents to easily adjust settings like maximum volume and access rights, in addition to uploading content or recording your own voice to Creative-Tonies. Rest easy knowing your little one's Toniebox is totally safe and secure. The mytonies app is available for iOS and Android devices.
How long does a Toniebox stay charged?
According to tonies® support, when fully charged, the Toniebox will last for around seven hours of active playtime. If your child isn't done with story time when the box gives you its low-battery tone, just set it on its charging station and keep playing! In fact, tonies® recommends waiting until the battery is low before recharging to help ensure a long lifespan.
What type of battery does the Toniebox use?
The Toniebox uses a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery. This type of battery is known for being very durable and having a long lifespan. It is also resistant to the "memory effect". Additionally, it is a safe alternative to lithium batteries. Lithium batteries can pose a safety risk if they are damaged or punctured. However, nickel-metal hydride batteries are much less likely to catch fire or explode if they are damaged. This makes them a safer option, especially for use around children.
How do you travel with a Toniebox?
The Toniebox is a great option for traveling with children. It is lightweight and easy to carry, and it has a long battery life. Additionally, the mytonies app allows parents to control the content that is played on the Toniebox, so you can be sure that your child is only listening to appropriate content while on the go. tonies® also offers a variety of carrying cases and headphones, so you can find the perfect solution for your family's needs. Whether you are taking a long road trip or just going on a short flight, the Toniebox is a great, screen-free way to keep your kids entertained while traveling.
What age is the Toniebox for?
The Toniebox is designed for independent play by children ages three and older. Younger children can also enjoy the Toniebox experience with proper adult supervision. In addition, you are able to filter content by age in our library to explore the content most appropriate for your little listener. The Toniebox controls were designed with little hands in mind, so kids can easily adjust volume, fast forward, rewind and change stories all on their own!
How did tonies® start?
tonies® was founded by Patric Faßbender and Marcus Stahl with the goal of creating a way for kids to experience storytelling in a digital age that stimulates their imagination in ways that a screen can't. They made the Toniebox for kids (and parents) who want to feel good about their entertainment at home and to bring back imagination in its purest form. The Toniebox was officially launched in Europe in 2016 and has rapidly become one of the top toys in the region. tonies® launched in the USA in 2020.
