Apparently we don’t spend enough quality time with our offspring these days, which is the cue for a new product which is designed to help us chat to the little ones from a distance. We’re not sure what’s wrong with Skype, but hey, we’re not marketing geniuses, so what do we know?

Toymail is a cute little character which connects to your WiFi network and then lets you send it messages from anywhere, which can then be read out by the character in your voice (or their own silly voice). You record the message using the free app on your…wait for it…smartphone (phew), and once it is delivered the child can respond immediately, and even hold a two way conversation.

If you go the whole hog (!), and sign up for the online account, the character will also address the child by their name, and even send them jokes and fun facts. Sounds like a cross between a Furby and a Nabaztag, but without all the weirdness. Um…no wait…Priced at $83.95 / £49.99.