Charles Langston:My 4-Year-Old Is Obsessed with This Screen-Free, Storytelling Toy & It’s on Sale

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Entertaining kids isn't always easy – especially 4-year-olds. If my preschooler had his way, he would watch television all day. So, I'm constantly on the hunt for toys that don't involve screens, will keep him entertained, and exercise his imagination. Easier said than done. That is, until I found the Toniebox, a screen-free toy for kids 3 and up, that uses storytelling and singalong songs to keep them engaged. And my son is obsessed. Best of all, you can buy it for $20 less on Amazon from now until the 27th.

How the Toniebox works is simple – you connect it to your WiFi and set it up through the app. Then you get your "Tonies" which are characters that each have their own set of stories and/or songs, and they can be Disney characters, characters from beloved books, educational characters, and more (you buy those separately). Place the Tonie on the Box (which comes in 6 colors) and it immediately starts playing (it's like a CD, it comes with a set list of what's on it), and kids can easily switch between tracks by hitting the side of the box. It's so simple to operate, they can use it independently on their own. And the battery lasts 7 hours, so kids can carry it around all day.

As soon as my son started playing with the Toniebox, his television watching diminished. He loves playing the stories and playing with his toys while he listens. Sometimes we bring the Box into the kitchen while we eat or listen to it while we go to sleep. Now all he does is talk about the Tonies he wants for his birthday or Christmas – which actually makes gift giving for the year simple. Just get more Tonies.

There is just one word of warning I have for caregivers. Set up does take about 10 minutes in the app, so you might want to do that before you hand over the Toniebox to your little one. My preschooler was so impatient (and excited), that he kept grabbing the directions and setting it up took a little longer than expected.

So, keep on scrolling and check out the screen-free toy my son is obsessed with. It's down from $99 to $79 for the rest of the week on Amazon, so don't wait. Your little one might like it, too.

Shop these Toniebox Deals

This is the Toniebox starter set that comes with Playtime Puppy. The puppy has a running time of 52 minutes and it includes classic kid songs, like Wheels on the Bus and Baby Shark.

If you want to have more options with your starter set, this Toniebox option is a great deal. It comes with Woody from Toy Story, Lightning McQueen from Cars, Simba from the Lion King, and the Playtime Puppy with 52 minutes of songs. 

Get your Disney princess fix with this starter set that comes with Cinderella, Belle, Moana, Tangled, and the Playtime Puppy Tonies. Each princess comes with a story and songs from their movies.

Shop the Tonies

If your child loves Toy Story, they'll love this Jessie Tonie. It includes songs and retelling of Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4, with a total running time of 37 minutes. This is my son's favorite, he's a huge Toy Story fan and he plays the stories over and over.

With a running time of 36 minutes, this Lightning McQueen Tonie gets kids right into the world of Cars. This reviewer raved, "A friend recommended the Tonie box for my 2yr old granddaughter. It is truly the best electronic toy I have ever purchased. It keeps her entertained for hours and she always wants to play a Tonie while she's eating or playing or just hanging out."

There is truly a Tonie for everything. Here is the Blippi Tonie, and it includes 6 stories, 8 song clips, and total run time of approximately 65 minutes. And if you're worried about Blippi being exactly accurate, listen to this user, "I was a little apprehensive about buying bc Blippi can be annoying to me with his weird sounds. The tonie does not have all the weird noises he makes!"

As you can see in the photo above, my son loves the Monsters Inc. Tonie. It comes with 4 songs, 1 story, and total run time of approximately 33 minutes -- plus, the narrator (Dom DeLuise) is my favorite by far.

Once you get the Toniebox, the Tonies just start rolling in. This carrying case was essential for my son, otherwise his Tonies would be everywhere. This case is sturdy, holds up to 14 Tonies, and opens up to reveal a little stage for kids to place their Toniebox.

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