Paper based on chapter published in the book 'Internet of Toys': "Like previous work in the field of co-design with children (Bruckman & Bandlow, 2003; Jones et al., 2003; Williamson, 2003), this chapter seeks to ask: ‘How can the ideology and practice of participation improve design practices?’ (Lee, 2008, p. 34) and thus produce better products. In the case of the specific focus here, this is in relation to improving the quality of digital and connected toys by better matching design to children’s play patterns and interests. To make this point the chapter draws on three different collaborative research projects in which I have considered children in relation to the design of digital play. "