Finding Language Balance with Toniebox: A Multilingual Parent’s Journey
As a parent raising a child in a multilingual environment, finding the right tools to support language development can feel like navigating uncharted waters. Introducing a fun way for raising bilinguals with the Toniebox! I want to share my experience with the Toniebox, a purchase I initially hesitated to make but one that has proven invaluable in our language-learning journey.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
The Initial Hesitation
After initially hearing about the Toniebox from the bilingual children guru Adam Beck, I looked at the details about this mysterious music box. Like many parents, I balked at the Toniebox’s price tag. I did not quite get the point…I can put music on my phone with the same result, right?
However, when my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter began heavily favoring Spanish and Catalan over English, I knew something needed to change. Her natural musical inclination was a gift in many ways to impulse language development. However, the dominance of Catalan songs from school was creating an unexpected challenge in maintaining English exposure.
Taking the Plunge to Support the Minority Language
I finally decided to invest in a starter pack, which included one children’s songs Tonie and three Disney Tonies (mainly to get the Winnie the Pooh Tonie). I also purchased several Creative Tonies – these special figures allow you to upload your own audio content, from personal recordings to favorite songs and stories.
Our Success Story
While my daughter’s interest ebbs and flows (as with any toddler!), the Toniebox has proven to be a valuable ally in our English language journey.
By curating exclusively English content on the Tonies, I created an engaging audio environment that sparked her interest in ways my direct attempts hadn’t achieved. The magic moment came when she began spontaneously singing along to English songs and stories – something she had previously shown little motivation to do with me.
A lot the success comes from the fact that she is in control. She chooses the Tonie figure with the music she wants on, she can determine the volume (with max volume controls on the App on my phone), and she can choose to listen to the same song over and over again. Never again will I forget the words to John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
The screen-less factor is huge. We do a lot of videochatting at our house, especially with family back home, but we are strictly no screens beyond that. The Toniebox allows exposure to English in a fun way without screens and shows that music doesn’t just come from my phone.
Building Our Collection
The beauty of the Toniebox system lies in its expandability. I’ve continued adding to our collection, with a particular focus on Creative Tonies. These customizable figures have become a fantastic tool for introducing new English content tailored to my daughter’s interests and our family’s needs. But once you start getting them, you want more. We are up to 20 Tonies right now!
Here are my top recommendations for starting out with a Toniebox. Make sure to get a starter kit for best value, considering your child’s interests. Don’t forget to get at least 1 or 2 fun Creative Tonies to add your own content!
Keep in Mind for Your Purchase: The Accent Factor
For parents considering a Toniebox, particularly for English language exposure, here’s an important tip: Tonies will feature the accent of their region of purchase. Since I wanted my daughter exposed primarily to American English, I sourced most of our Tonies from the US. While I occasionally purchased UK Tonies when convenience demanded, I discovered that not only do the accents differ, but the story content varies as well.
Plan accordingly, investing in these little figures when you are home to avoid the change of accent, story, and extra shipping costs.
The Verdict
Looking back, while the initial investment felt significant, the Toniebox has proven to be a valuable tool in our multilingual journey. It’s not just about language exposure – it’s about creating joyful, engaging moments that make learning feel natural and fun. We absolutely love sharing new music with our daughter through the Toniebox and having dance parties together.
For families navigating the complexities of minority language maintenance, especially in musically-inclined children, the Toniebox might just be the support you’re looking for.
Likewise, the Toniebox can be a great option for exposure to new languages when moving to Spain. Tonies come in almost every children’s literary, music, or film character you can think of, so you can explore the different options in Spanish, or get a Creative Tonie and put some Catalan music on.
The ideal ages for the Toniebox are from 3 to 8, but I think you can push it a bit more especially with Creative Tonies or particularly favorite characters.
Remember, every child’s language journey is unique, and what works for one family might not work for another. However, if you’re on the fence about the Toniebox as I once was, consider how it might fit into your language strategy.
Was raising bilinguals with the Toniebox easier to meet your minority language quota?
Affiliate Disclaimer
This blog post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. The Toniebox and Tonies mentioned in this post were purchased with my own funds, and all opinions expressed are my own honest experiences.
