New Tech Toy: Toymail Co.

Ah, to find a toy to satisfy youngsters’ cravings for technology that’s not just another screen—it’s one of the riddles of modern parenting! Enter Toymail Co. Founded by Gauri Nanda—a designer, entrepreneur, and MIT Media Lab alum—and her best friend Audry Hill, this Brooklyn-based enterprise (look for their storefront later this year) connects kids and parents in a whimsically high-tech way. Your little one gets one of six feisty critter toys (shaped to resemble classic mailboxes) while you download a free app to your smartphone—the app lets you record voice messages that get transmitted to your child’s physical toy. Who says no one likes voicemails anymore? toymailco.com