Less than three weeks after receiving a Yoto Player as a gift, my three-year-old nephew started referring to another speaker toy as “Yoto,” a testament to how quickly he connected with the device. Two months later, his joyous fascination with the gadget remains as strong as ever — even his initially doubtful parents have embraced it, finding it just as delightful as he does.
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My sister and brother-in-law are committed to providing my nephew with a relatively screen-free upbringing. They are cautious of raising a developmentally delayed iPad kid. Their household is free of a traditional television, and they prefer to watch the occasional film or episode of Bluey on a laptop. They also ensure that my nephew’s access to smartphones is closely monitored and carefully timed.
Yet, even the most cautious parents have moments of exhaustion where they need a break. Kids are bursting with energy, making it challenging to keep up while juggling housework and professional obligations. It’s no surprise that many fatigued adults resort to screens as a quick means to entertain their children.
The Yoto Player is designed as a screen-free alternative, capturing children’s imaginations through engaging audio that they can control themselves by using physical cards. Initially, I was hesitant about introducing such a gadget into my family, as we typically lean towards traditional playthings.
After experiencing it firsthand, I realized the Yoto Player truly is a transformative tool.
What is the Yoto Player?
When not actively playing a card, the Yoto Player also serves as a clock, adding functionality to its design.
Credit: Yoto
Essentially, the Yoto Player is a portable audio speaker that plays sound recordings from cards inserted into a dedicated slot in the device. This allows young users to independently choose what audio they listen to by selecting cards, adjusting the volume, and skipping to their favorite tracks. The unique card system eliminates the risk of children stumbling into inappropriate content that they may encounter on platforms like YouTube, providing a safer listening experience.
Designed with child-friendly rounded edges, the Yoto Player features large, easy-to-use controls that promote independent use, allowing even the youngest of users to navigate with confidence. After a brief period of familiarization, my nephew expertly handling the knobs and buttons to adjust volume, change tracks, and pause playback, proving that even without labels, the controls are intuitively designed for little hands.
The robust, box-like structure of the Yoto Player is constructed to endure the rigors of childhood play, holding up remarkably well to the roughness typical of toddlers. While I wouldn’t recommend purposely dropping it, the Yoto appears sturdy enough to withstand the occasional tumble or drop from toddler height without suffering significant damage.
The Yoto Player offers functionally screen-free entertainment
Surprisingly, my nephew’s enjoyment was unaffected by the Yoto Player’s functional lack of screens.
Credit: Amanda Yeo
When I first gifted my nephew the Yoto Player, I worried that its absence of a traditional screen might lead to disinterest. However, it is important to clarify that while the Yoto Player is fundamentally screen-free, it does have a small screen that displays pixel art corresponding to the content being played. For instance, an image of a giraffe will appear alongside Dear Zoo, or a drawing of Lightning McQueen can be seen during the Yoto adaptation of Disney’s Cars.
While these images do change as the audio progresses — and even offer hints for audio quizzes on certain cards — they resemble the occasional flipping of pages in a picture book more than a barrage of distracting YouTube videos. Luckily, my nephew was completely unfazed by the absence of video content. He finds the Yoto Player engaging enough that he can quietly enjoy it while snuggling beside a sleeping parent or even playing with it during those early morning hours when he’s awake long before anyone else.
His parents appreciate watching him relish the Yoto Player, whether focused on a riveting tale or keeping busy building a LEGO creation. Instead of zoning out like they would in front of a screen, children are encouraged to use their imaginations with the Yoto Player, akin to the experience of being read to or sung to. My brother-in-law praised the Yoto Player as “entertainment that doesn’t make him catatonic,” also noting its effectiveness during family road trips.
“I feel so much more comfortable allowing him to engage with a Yoto than a phone,” my brother-in-law shared.
Yoto’s wide catalogue of cards includes Disney, Elton John, and C.S. Lewis
The Yoto Player operates primarily through Yoto cards, which are bought separately.
Credit: Yoto
The Yoto Player operates using Yoto cards, which must be purchased separately from the device itself. Insert a card into the Player, and it will automatically start to play; remove it, and it stops. This straightforward system is simple enough for even young children to comprehend and use independently.
Yoto boasts an extensive and varied collection of cards to curate your child’s audio experience thoughtfully. Catering to children from ages 0 to 12 and beyond, the range includes songs, stories, and educational content. Many of the cards feature original content created by Yoto itself, but there are also a plethora of known brand titles like Disney, Harry Potter, Ladybird Books, and even Cocomelon. The song offerings range from classic nursery rhymes to tracks by Queen, the Spice Girls, Elton John, and the Beatles. Additionally, parents can even create and record their own unique cards (detailed below).
However, my brother-in-law pointed out that the Yoto Player operates within a closed ecosystem. It requires users to purchase Yoto cards or play Yoto-approved audio from the Yoto app. With the cheapest cards starting at just a few dollars, it’s easy for the cost of building a substantial collection to add up quickly. For instance, acquiring the full Harry Potter series can cost a couple of hundred dollars.
Interestingly, the sound files are not physically stored within the Yoto cards. Instead, the cards merely inform the Yoto Player that the user owns them, prompting the device to download the corresponding audio from Yoto’s servers. Therefore, a WiFi connection is necessary during initial setup and when inserting each new card for the first time. Overall, the setup process is straightforward, and once established, the Yoto Player interacts seamlessly with the cards, stopping and starting based on card insertion and removal.
My nephew was content to quietly sit and listen to the Yoto Player happily.
Credit: Amanda Yeo
One mild disappointment is that, although the design encourages read-alongs, many of the available book cards aren’t formatted for that purpose. Yoto does provide audiobook cards for classic stories, such as The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, James and the Giant Peach, and Anne of Green Gables. However, customers have noted that some adaptations are abridged, meaning children cannot effectively follow along with their printed copies of the books.
Fortunately, certain cards for picture books like Dear Zoo are specifically designed for read-along experiences, offering cues for when to turn the page. While I wasn’t able to try this feature with my nephew, my brother-in-law believes it will be a fantastic addition when he begins reading on his own.
There are slight differences in the lyrics for many nursery songs, which may surprise parents accustomed to traditional versions. For example, instead of passing hot cross buns to your “sons” if there are “no daughters,” Yoto Original card Old McDonald and other Pre-School Songs suggests distributing them to both “daughters” and “sons.”
Regardless of these variations, my nephew thoroughly enjoys the songs, organizing spontaneous dance parties in the living room to accompany his Yoto tunes. Still, these lyrical changes could potentially confuse parents during their initial sing-along attempts.
Yoto lets you personalise cards for a loving touch
Fortunately, for those who prefer specific lyrics or voices, Yoto offers blank cards that parents can use to record their own messages via the Yoto app. This feature paves the way for countless creative possibilities, allowing parents to design special, customized cards that resonate with their child’s personality.
Yoto’s connected app is for adults
The Yoto app serves primarily as a tool for adults, further enhancing the device’s functionality.
Credit: Yoto
Like most modern gadgets, the Yoto Player utilizes a connected app, but young children can navigate their entertainment entirely through the cards without ever needing to see the app, preserving the device’s screen-free experience. Instead, the Yoto app is intended exclusively for adults.
There’s a decent selection of relaxing sleep sounds that parents might also find helpful. These include various soothing audio options, such as white noise and nature sounds, all of which can be set on a customizable timer maxing out at 12 hours and 55 minutes. This means you can easily program it to turn off once your child falls asleep. Additionally, tracks can be repeated, and the playback speed can be adjusted, perfect for parents winding down after a long day.
All of these sounds can be streamed directly to any connected Yoto Player, or played through a parent’s phone or third-party speakers. I have personally used Apple AirPlay to listen to Yoto’s sleep sounds on my Sonos Roam, proving that both kids and adults alike can appreciate the calming effects of rain sounds.
The Yoto app allows for multiple users on one family account, which is especially advantageous for children who split their time between homes. I experienced a few hiccups while attempting to join my brother-in-law’s account, but the issue was resolved once we connected to the same WiFi during the initial setup. Overall, using the app has been smooth and relatively hassle-free.
Yoto Player vs. Yoto Mini
My nephew switches seamlessly between using both the Yoto Player and the Yoto Mini.
Credit: Amanda Yeo
Yoto offers two models: the Yoto Player and the Yoto Mini. The primary difference is their sizes; the Player is a larger cube measuring just over four inches in each direction, while the Mini is notably more compact at 2.7 inches across and 1.5 inches deep.
The Yoto Player includes additional features such as superior stereo sound, a night light, a room thermometer, and both wireless and USB-C charging. Conversely, the Yoto Mini only offers mono sound and relies solely on USB-C for charging. Yoto also notes that the Mini has a shorter battery life of 14 hours compared to its larger counterpart’s impressive 24 hours.
Despite these differences, my nephew genuinely didn’t seem to mind, frequently treating both speakers as interchangeable. He often chooses the Yoto Mini even when the Player is readily available and charged, displaying no aversion to carrying around the bulkier device. The Mini’s smaller screen proved inconsequential to him, as his engagement with the audio remains the priority.
The Yoto Player’s night light feature distinguishes it from the Yoto Mini.
Credit: Yoto
Meanwhile, my sister and brother-in-law benefit significantly from the extra features of the Yoto Player, setting the night light to change colors throughout the day. When my nephew rises at 6 a.m., he understands that it’s not yet time to get up until the Yoto Player emits a blue light at 7 a.m. This nighttime system has been immensely helpful for the sleep-deprived parents. Sadly, my nephew isn’t particularly fond of the night light, leading the family to stop using the Yoto Player at night. My brother-in-law also expressed gentle disappointment that the light only activates when the device is lies flat, which obstructs the clock display. Since my nephew is learning to read numbers, he felt visibility of both the night light and clock simultaneously could aid in his understanding of time management.
Is the Yoto Player worth it?
Both the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini captivate and engage children effectively.
Credit: Yoto
I entered this experience mildly skeptical about Yoto’s speakers. Although Yoto’s mission to minimize screen time is commendable, I wondered if purely audio-based entertainment retained its appeal in a world dominated by bright, flashy screens. Would a simple speaker genuinely capture the attention of a child in an age characterized by vivid visual stimulation?
If you’re struggling to entertain a young child without fully immersing them in screen time, the Yoto Player serves as an innovative solution, keeping their minds active and engaged. Plus, thanks to Yoto’s extensive catalogue of cards catered for all ages, it offers a clever way to ease the stress of searching for gifts for years to come.
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Family & Parenting
What are the benefits of using a night light to create a soothing bedtime environment for children?
Etires for the night, the soft glow of the night light offers comfort, making bedtime a more soothing experience. In comparison, the Yoto Mini, while convenient for on-the-go use, lacks these extra features, making it less ideal for nighttime routines.
Ultimately, the choice between the Yoto Player and the Yoto Mini will depend on the family’s specific needs. For those seeking a more robust home audio solution with additional features, the Yoto Player shines. However, if portability is a priority, the Yoto Mini offers a compact alternative without sacrificing the immersive audio experience that both devices provide.
The Yoto Player and its accompanying cards foster a unique play environment, encouraging creativity and imagination in children, while remaining a reliable source of entertainment. My nephew’s delight in the Yoto Player truly reflects its appeal: a screen-free device that nurtures listening skills and imaginative play, presenting a refreshing alternative to traditional screens. As my brother-in-law put it, “It’s entertainment that enriches his mind instead of dulling it.”
