The modern toy box looks very different from the one many New Zealand parents grew up with. Alongside wooden blocks, puzzles and stuffed animals, children can now find talking robots, connected dolls, interactive learning devices, remote-controlled vehicles and toys that respond to voice commands. Some can connect to smartphones, home Wi-Fi networks or companion apps, turning ordinary play into a much more digital experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That shift has created a new question for Kiwi families: when does a toy stop being just a toy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The issue is becoming increasingly important as technology moves deeper into children’s everyday lives. A connected toy may contain microphones, cameras, sensors, Bluetooth hardware or an internet connection. These features can make play more engaging, but they can also create new questions about what information is collected, where it goes and who can access it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Zealand’s privacy conversation has already moved strongly toward children’s digital lives. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner reported in its 2026 annual privacy survey that children’s privacy, including social media use, was the top concern among respondents, with 71% expressing concern. That figure was four percentage points higher than the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For parents, the challenge is no longer simply deciding whether a toy is fun. It is also deciding whether the technology behind the toy deserves the same level of attention as the toy itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Connected toys can offer experiences that traditional toys cannot. A child might ask a toy a question, create a digital story, control a miniature vehicle from a tablet or use an interactive learning device that adapts to their responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some products are designed around artificial intelligence, while others rely on simpler voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity or smartphone applications. The technology can encourage creativity and make educational activities more interactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But every additional digital feature can also introduce another layer of data collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A toy that records a child’s voice is fundamentally different from a traditional plush toy. A toy that connects to an app may require an account. A device with location-related functions could potentially reveal information about where a family lives or where a child spends time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That does not automatically mean smart toys are unsafe. Instead, it means families need to understand what they are buying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same principle applies to the less glamorous part of electronic toys. Parents may spend considerable time examining an app’s privacy settings while overlooking the physical power system inside the device. Yet battery compartments, replacement batteries and charging systems are also important parts of responsible toy ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For families purchasing electronic toys, checking the manufacturer’s instructions and understanding the appropriate toys battery<\/a><\/strong> for a particular product can be just as important as checking its software requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Zealand’s latest privacy research shows that concerns around children’s digital lives are becoming mainstream rather than niche. The Privacy Commissioner says increasing technology use is leading more people to question how personal information is collected, what it is used for and how it is protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That concern is especially relevant when children are involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Children may not understand what information a connected device is collecting. They may also assume that a toy is private because it looks like a traditional children’s product. A microphone hidden inside a colourful toy may not feel like the same thing as a microphone on a smartphone, even though both can potentially capture audio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents therefore have an important role in creating a boundary between convenience and unnecessary data collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before connecting a smart toy, families can look at whether an account is required, what permissions the companion app requests, whether voice or video information is stored, whether data can be deleted and whether the device can still be used without an internet connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These questions may take only a few minutes, but they can make a significant difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the easiest mistakes is to wait until a toy is already connected before thinking about privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A better approach begins in the shop or online checkout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents can look for the manufacturer’s information about connectivity, apps, data collection and security. If a toy needs a smartphone application, checking the app’s permissions before handing the product to a child can reveal how much information it wants to access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also worth asking a simple question: does the toy really need all of these features?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A toy that plays sounds locally may not need an internet connection. A remote-controlled vehicle may only require a short-range controller. An educational device may be perfectly useful without collecting a child’s personal profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fewer unnecessary connections a device has, the easier it can be to understand and manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is particularly relevant as artificial intelligence becomes more common in children’s products. AI-enabled toys can potentially offer imaginative experiences, but parents should distinguish between technology that supports creativity and technology that attempts to create an always-connected relationship with a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The difference matters because a toy that simply generates drawings or responds to predefined commands presents a different privacy profile from a device designed to maintain an ongoing conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Digital privacy is only one part of the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Electronic toys still have physical safety considerations, and New Zealand authorities continue to pay close attention to them. The Commerce Commission says toys intended for children up to and including 36 months must meet specific safety requirements, including rules designed to reduce choking risks and prevent easy access to batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is particularly important because small batteries can present serious dangers if swallowed. Product Safety New Zealand warns that button batteries can cause severe and potentially fatal injuries if swallowed or inserted into the ears or nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For families, this means an electronic toy should be evaluated from both sides: what happens digitally and what happens physically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A secure app cannot compensate for an easily accessible battery compartment. Likewise, a well-designed battery system does not address unnecessary data collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents should therefore inspect the battery compartment, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and keep replacement and used batteries away from young children. When replacing a battery, using the correct specification is essential rather than simply choosing one that physically fits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is another reason to pay attention to the toys battery<\/a><\/strong> specified for an electronic product and to store spare batteries securely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The timing is particularly interesting because New Zealand is already modernising its approach to toy safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In July 2026, the government announced changes intended to update toy safety requirements for products marketed to children under three. The existing New Zealand framework relied on a 2002 Australia\/New Zealand standard, while the government said newer standards had since been developed internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The updated approach is designed to recognise the 2023 Australia\/New Zealand standard as well as comparable European and United States standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government says the change should reduce unnecessary compliance costs while maintaining safety protections and making it easier for suppliers to offer compliant products in New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That development shows how quickly the toy industry is changing. The modern toy market is no longer limited to simple physical products. Toys increasingly combine electronics, software, wireless connections, sensors and digital services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Safety frameworks therefore need to keep pace with technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A product can be technologically impressive without being the right choice for every family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents may be attracted to a toy because it promises artificial intelligence, voice interaction or a highly personalised experience. Children may love the novelty. But the more connected a toy becomes, the more important it is to understand its limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A useful checklist is surprisingly simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, identify what the toy can hear, see or record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, determine whether it connects to the internet or another device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, check whether an account is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth, review the permissions requested by the companion application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifth, find out whether data is stored remotely and whether parents can delete it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, check the physical safety of the product, including its battery compartment and age suitability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This approach does not mean avoiding technology. Instead, it encourages families to choose technology deliberately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also a broader question about what children actually need from technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best smart toys may not be the ones with the largest number of digital features. A toy that encourages children to build, draw, imagine, solve problems or interact with other people can have more lasting value than one that simply talks continuously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one reason privacy-friendly designs can be particularly appealing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A device does not necessarily need to collect a child’s personal information to be entertaining. It can use technology as a tool rather than turning the child into a source of data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That philosophy could become increasingly important as AI enters more consumer products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For New Zealand families, the conversation around smart toys is therefore bigger than cybersecurity. It is about creating a healthier relationship between children and connected technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents do not need to become cybersecurity experts to make smarter decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start by reading the packaging and manufacturer’s instructions. If a toy uses an app, check the app before allowing a child to use the device independently. Disable permissions that are not necessary for the toy’s core function, where possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep software and companion apps updated because manufacturers may release security improvements over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the toy has a microphone or camera, consider where it is used in the home. A device placed in a child’s bedroom raises different privacy considerations from one used occasionally in a shared family space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents should also establish simple household rules. Children can learn that connected toys are still electronic devices and that they should not share personal information with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Physical safety deserves the same attention. Keep spare batteries out of reach, make sure battery compartments are properly secured and follow the recommended replacement procedure. When purchasing replacements, selecting the correct toys battery<\/a><\/strong> helps ensure the device operates as intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The toy box of the future is unlikely to become less technological. If anything, more toys will probably include sensors, wireless connections, intelligent software and interactive features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That does not have to be a bad thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Technology can make play more creative, educational and personalised. But New Zealand’s growing focus on children’s privacy suggests that families are beginning to ask a more important question: what should technology know about a child simply because it is inside a toy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no single answer for every family. A connected toy may be perfectly appropriate in one household and unnecessary in another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The smartest approach is not to reject innovation. It is to understand it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As New Zealand updates toy safety rules and public concern over children’s digital privacy continues to rise, parents have a timely opportunity to look at toys differently. The most valuable feature may not be artificial intelligence, an internet connection or a clever voice assistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, the best toy is simply one that gives children room to imagine while giving parents confidence that the technology around them is safe, understandable and under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Toys Become Connected Devices The modern toy box looks very different from the one many New Zealand parents grew up with. Alongside wooden blocks, puzzles and stuffed animals, children can now find talking robots, connected dolls, interactive learning devices, remote-controlled vehicles and toys that respond to voice commands. Some can connect to smartphones, home … Continue reading Smart Toys Bring New Privacy Questions for New Zealand Families<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3444,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[769],"tags":[770],"class_list":["post-3443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-toys-battery","tag-smart-toys-privacy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3443"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3445,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3443\/revisions\/3445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Why Children’s Privacy Is Becoming a Bigger Issue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Privacy Question Starts Before the Toy Comes Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Battery Safety Still Matters in the Smart Toy Era<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
New Zealand Is Updating Toy Safety Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Difference Between a Smart Toy and a Safe Toy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Smart Toys Should Support Play, Not Replace It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Kiwi Parents Can Do Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A New Kind of Toy Box<\/h2>\n\n\n\n