Abstract: Provided is an electronic toy which automatically activates when the user is nearby. An electronic toy controlled so as to react to external information has a movement mechanism structuring the mechanical movement of the toy (FIG. 5); an input element for obtaining external information (51-55); a distinction element for distinguishing whether an object body exists in the periphery (S152); and a control element for selecting, among a plurality of control parameters, a control parameter for controlling the movement mechanism in correspondence with the external information based on the distinction result, and controlling the movement of the movement mechanism, and activates when a person exists in the periphery (S162-180).