Dad praises screen-free system that entertains youngsters with out the necessity for TV
The audio device aimed at kids aged 3-12+, offering stories, music, learning and adventure
Screen time has become a burning issue amongst parents nowadays, not least because it features as a central storyline in the forthcoming Toy Story 5 film this summer. As a father of an almost two-year-old boy, it really resonates with me.
On one hand, there are moments when you need to keep him occupied for a moment while doing something like preparing dinner, but there’s no getting away from the fact that too much screen time isn’t beneficial for them and should be limited wherever feasible. It’s precisely why screen-free options have exploded in popularity in recent years.
Amongst these is the Yoto Player, a gadget created for children aged 3-12+ that’s designed to “inspire imagination and independence”. I was thrilled to try one out with my son, Teddy. He’s slightly younger than the target age range, but he’s clever and managed to enjoy it all the same, reports the Mirror.
For those not familiar with the gadget, it retails for £89.99 and offers a universe of stories, music, education, and adventure in a secure, child-friendly way. Users simply insert a Yoto card and the entertainment begins. Importantly, there’s no microphone, camera, or advertisements, unlike many contemporary devices.
Setting up is fairly straightforward – it’s simply a matter of downloading an app, following some basic instructions to link it to the Wi-Fi, and you’re ready to start. Operating it is remarkably easy, featuring a card slot at the top (cards are purchased separately and include numerous beloved stories, characters, and music), plus two small orange buttons for adjusting volume, choosing tracks, and accessing a collection of complimentary content.
Shop the Yoto Player
I was very impressed with all the functions that come with the Yoto Player
Yoto has a continuously growing catalogue of over 1,000 audio titles, spanning childhood favourites like The Gruffalo and the entire Harry Potter collection to legendary music from the Spice Girls and the Beatles. Beyond Yoto’s licensed material, there’s also Yoto Studios.
This creates Yoto Originals content developed by an internal team dedicated to producing captivating audio for children of every age, accomplished through partnerships with world-renowned authors, prize-winning musicians, creative professionals and audio artists.
The gadget is quite straightforward to master and something young kids would undoubtedly pick up rather swiftly with some assistance. A complimentary ‘make your own’ card is included, enabling parents to upload their child’s preferred sounds to their personalised card.
This means relatives can even record themselves reading aloud, singing or creating amusing noises, which are then saved on a dedicated card. I’m particularly fond of the free radio feature, which plays a variety of child-friendly tunes to keep them amused — I’ve even found myself bopping along to a few. The addition of a night light is a useful extra; simply turn the Yoto Player face down and select from seven colours to make bedtime a touch more calming.
It’s also ideal for bedtime, with features like sleep sounds, white noise, and a room thermometer. It includes an Ok-to-wake setting to signal to children when it’s time to rise and shine. There are several other perks that I appreciate, including the option to use it as a Bluetooth speaker, connect it with headphones, or sync it with your car so everyone can enjoy the audio.
The product has a certain charm in how it enables children to engage their imagination, something that seems to have been somewhat lost amidst endless television and smartphone usage. One point to note is that it’s slightly heavy, which speaks to its robust construction, though I’ll need to ensure my son doesn’t drop it to prevent any damage.
Another well-liked audio device is the Toniebox, which retails for £99.99 on Amazon. These differ from Yoto Players in that they use characters placed on the devices to play stories and music, rather than cards. Children place a Tonie or Tonieplay game atop the Toniebox and squeeze, tilt, tap and turn to navigate, all without a screen.
The Voxblock represents another screen-free alternative, focusing specifically on books. Priced at £59.99 on Amazon, it operates independently, without Wi-Fi or apps.
Trustpilot reviewers have also expressed considerable enthusiasm for the Yoto Player. One customer shared: “3rd generation is great. We are very happy with the podcasts. It teaches my kids so much!”
Another parent commented: “Our 4-year-old loves his Yoto box. It’s been fun to watch him grow into the stories – initially Paw Patrol and now loves the ladybird nature cards and some longer stories. Helps decrease how much he requests to watch something.”
A third reviewer noted: “We love our Yoto! My son is 10 and I thought it may be “too young” for him, but he is an audiobook lover and takes his Yoto everywhere! I love the battery life of this larger one, so I don’t have to worry about it dying on a car trip.”
Despite the praise, some purchasers knocked off a star, with one pointing out: “Kid loves it, app is nice, but you do need a good starter pack of story cards to get a kid interested initially.”
