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Sure, a trusty tablet logged into the YouTube Kids app may keep your little ones entertained during long travel days, it’s not really a viable solution if you’re looking to limit screen time.
So, it’s no surprise that the perfectly petite and portable Yoto Mini is once again flying off the virtual shelves ahead of the summer holidays.
And it’s an understatement to say parents are impressed by how much their kids love the gadget.
Yoto Mini
A screen-free audio player designed for kids aged 3-12, the Yoto Mini boasts an impressive 14-hour battery life, and over 500 hours of audio storage capacity. As well as providing access to sleep sounds, daily podcasts, and family-friendly radio stations, it also uses physical Yoto Cards — which play specific music, stories, and educational content.
A screen-free audio player made specifically for kids, the Yoto Mini is essentially just the smaller sibling of the much-loved Yoto Player. Designed to encourage independent listening, it doubles as a clock, and has no microphones, cameras, or ads — prioritising totally safe creative play.
Inspired by Montessori principles, the Yoto Mini uses Yoto Cards — which are physically allotted into the gadget, and range from Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol audiobooks, to educational podcasts like Horrible Histories and BrainBots. With over 1,200 cards to choose from, there’s something for every child — whatever their interests.
The reviews are impressive, with G Linton writing: ‘Great product that is easy for the kids to use and makes our daily lives much easier.’
Another rave endorsement from Kelsi Kimuri read: ‘My son loves it, it’s one of my best purchases as a mom so far.’
It’s not just for the kids, though, with some parents picking one up for themselves.
A reviewer called Nonny wrote: ‘I could not love this device more. Despite being a children’s toy I bought it for myself as I thought the design was incredibly charming and I loved how tactile the cards are–reminds me of the cassettes I loved so much as a kid! The quality is absolutely suitable for adults: the plastic isn’t cheap at all, it’s very sturdy, and for such a small device with a mono speaker, the sound quality is excellent–everyone I showed it to was very impressed! I would’ve adored this as a kid, and I adore it just as much now.’
Another, Kimberley Vanover, said it was an ‘excellent tool’ for parents hoping to reduce screen time.
They said: ‘My daughter especially enjoys listening to her favourite stories while she plays with her toys, colours, or builds with Legos. It keeps her entertained and creatively engaged—all without a screen in sight.’
Great for long car drives and flights, the Yoto Mini also comes with a couple of different additional accessories. The Yoto Headphones have been made specifically for young ears, have kid-safe volume limiting, and even come with a clever feature that allows two sets to listen from one player.
Meanwhile, the hard-shell Yoto Mini Travel Case has ample space to store a Yoto Mini, cable, kids’ headphones and up to 30 Yoto Cards — so it’s perfect for bringing with you on your family adventures this summer. Plus, you can personalise your audio player with a silicone Mini Adventure Jacket, which will help protect it from any bumps and scuffs on your travels.
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