'I've cut my kids' screen time without them even noticing using these 3 simple swaps.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Tonies

And just like that, my six-year-old has entered her zombie era. Perfect timing, really with Halloween right around the corner.

I don't even need to buy her a costume... all it takes is the soft glow of a screen. Within minutes, her eyes glaze over, her mouth hangs open, and she's gone. Lost to the glow, and apparently to sound too, because I could shout her name from three houses down and get nothing.

Her little sister, almost four, isn't as hooked, but she's... a lot. She's busy, loud and allergic to stillness. When she was born, her umbilical cord was knotted and honestly, that tracks. She's been doing laps ever since.

Between one glued to a screen and the other climbing the furniture, our afternoons were starting to feel like a circus I didn't sign up to run. I found myself handing over screens just to buy silence and then instantly feeling guilty about it. Something had to give.

So, I decided we were going screen-free during the weekdays. It sounded virtuous in theory but in reality they were bored out of their minds. They'd forgotten how to play. And what do small, bored humans do?

They irritate each other to the brink of tears. Which, of course, irritates me to the brink of insanity. It's a vicious, noisy cycle that usually ends with someone crying, someone hurt, or me dramatically muttering, "I can't do this anymore." (Please tell me it's not just me.)

I started experimenting with little swaps that might break the screen spell without anyone noticing. Nothing dramatic, just small changes that make the afternoons a little calmer (and me a little saner). Here's what's been working for us so far.

Swap 1: We've turned to audio.

I thought I'd cracked it with the chores and scooter rides, but then came this real life-changer. Something that keeps them entertained, moving or mellow, all without a screen in sight. The Toniebox.

We have the Toniebox 2, and set-up I promise is surprisingly easy. You just plug it in, download the app, and connect your Toniebox. No tech tantrums, no mysterious blinking lights. It even comes partly charged (high praise from me, because patience is not exactly a core strength in our house).

Image: Supplied.

When it's Toniebox time, my eldest goes straight for the Spider-Man Tonie, instantly recognising the songs and jumping up to dance which was a very welcome surprise. My youngest adores the Ms. Rachel Tonie. This one is super interactive and sparks her imagination, with questions and actions to follow, having her calling out answers like her life depends on it.

The Disney: Quiz Kingdom Tonieplay game is our shared favourite, a game that asks questions about their favourite Disney characters and gets kids to twist the dial to pick the right answer. I love that the girls can play it together, and it actually keeps my youngest focused for more than two minutes. No small miracle.

Image: Supplied.

Now, the Toniebox isn't just something I pull out when I need to make dinner. It's become one of those parenting tools that works for pretty much everything.

When they've got wriggles to burn, we pop on a Tonie with their favourite songs and turn the lounge room into a dance floor.

When one needs solo time, they'll curl up with their favourite audio story.

And before bed, we use it to wind down. The Sleepy Duck Tonie is the current obsession, with rainforest sounds that fill the room while the night-light glows softly.

It supports them to have great sleep habits too with the sleep timer feature, and its gentle wake-up light that lets the girls know when they've got the all-clear to hop up.

It's a gadget that will actually grow with them, which makes it a solid investment to me. There's hundreds of Tonies to pick from (designed for ages one to nine and up), so it feels like something that will last beyond the current phase, and gives us a collection we (and family members) can add to over time.

And as a bonus, it's been indestructible to my girls. The soft, curved and durable box means I'm not hovering in the background worrying someone's going to break it. It's honestly been the most versatile tool in our parenting armoury: the very thing that keeps them happy, content and imaginative, while giving me that rare, guilt-free moment of peace.

Swap 2: Letting the kids help (and learning to chill about it).

I'll admit, I'm in a golden era. That brief window where they actually want to help. They're still desperate to be a "good girl" and impress Mum — and I know it's a limited-time offer, so I'm milking every last second.

To make it work, I've had to learn to slow down which is not easy during the post-work marathon we all pretend is family time. That blur between 5pm and bedtime where you're cooking, cleaning, bathing and negotiating peace treaties. My instinct is to sprint through it like I'm a contestant on Survivor, but these days I try to pause and let them join in.

It doesn't always go to plan, of course. The dishwasher gets half-emptied before someone decides a spoon makes a better microphone. Groceries are unpacked in wildly creative places and when we water the garden, more water ends up on their clothes than the plants but the thing is — they love it. And, if I'm honest, I kind of do too. It's messy and slow, sure, but it's also connection disguised as chores. 

Swap 3: Scoot to the shops and call it an outing.

Instead of doing a quick solo dash on the way home, I've started turning it into a little outing. We'll all grab scooters and head up to the shop together. It's 20 minutes tops, but to them, it's an event.

For whatever reason, the idea of going for a walk or a scoot after school feels thrilling to small people. Maybe it's the fresh air, maybe it's the illusion of freedom but they eat it right up, and I feel like the day's hero.

And honestly, I get it. Think about how you feel after sitting at your desk all day. They're the same after school but that quick loop to pick up a loaf of bread magically seems to reset everyone's mood.

Yes, it's slower. And yes, someone always insists on also bringing their Toniebox which you now need to hold, along with the groceries. But you're playing the long game, right? Some movement and fresh air almost always means fewer meltdowns and a much calmer evening once we're home.

Check out the Toniebox 2 Starter Sets.

Feature image: Supplied.

You can now purchase your Toniebox 2 in-store or online at all participating retailers.