The Yoto Mini Is the Ultimate Screen-Free Christmas Gift for Kids

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleYoto Player CardsYoto Player AccessoriesWhy Trust PEOPLE?

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In This Article

Yoto Player Cards

Yoto Player Accessories

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Photo:People

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If I had to choose thebest gift my 5-year-old son has receivedfrom his vast collection of toys, it would have to be theYoto Mini. And I’m the one who gifted it!

This compact and adorable audio player has nearly eliminated our screen time battles and has encouraged him to explore his independence, creativity, and imagination in a whole new way.

If you’re looking to cut down on screen time and empower your child to take charge of their listening adventures, hop aboard the Yoto train and sneak this gadget onto their holiday wish list. You can thank me later.

Yoto Mini PlayerPHOTO: Yoto$70$65 at Amazon$70 at TargetView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Mini Player

PHOTO: Yoto

$70$65 at Amazon$70 at TargetView on Yotoplay.com

As a child of the ’90s, I always had my Discman with me. While my parents playedtheirmusic on road trips, I loved sifting through my CD binder to pick my favorite tracks. I wanted to share that same joy with my son and give him the chance to safely dive into the world of music and stories to discover his own passions and interests. The Yoto Mini does just that.

The Yoto Mini is super easy for kids to control.People

The compact, travel-friendly audio player literally fits in the palm of your hand and is easy for kids to control. Two chunky orange knobs can be pressed and twisted to adjust the volume, track, or chapter, and the little pixel display shows a unique icon for each song or story, so kids know exactly where to land when they’re browsing.

PHOTO: PeoplePHOTO: People

What makes this device so unique is the way it plays audio. Physical cards are placed in the slot on top of the player, allowing kids to customize their listening experience. TheYoto card libraryis expansive, too, with over 1,000 options to choose from. You’ll findclassic stories retold,music compilations,favorite characters, sleep sounds, and so much more.

Our Favorite Yoto Player Cards

Yoto Kidz Bop All-Time Greatest HitsView on Yotoplay.comYoto Kidz Bop Party Playlist!View on Yotoplay.comYoto 5-Minute Marvel StoriesView on Yotoplay.comYoto Dragon TalesView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Kidz Bop All-Time Greatest HitsView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Kidz Bop All-Time Greatest Hits

View on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Kidz Bop Party Playlist!View on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Kidz Bop Party Playlist!

Yoto 5-Minute Marvel StoriesView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto 5-Minute Marvel Stories

Yoto Dragon TalesView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Dragon Tales

The Yoto ClubYoto offers a subscription service calledYoto Clubwith three membership tiers at various monthly (or annual) rates. This unlocks unlimited access to hundreds of Yoto originals, members-only titles, store discounts, card credits, free shipping, and more.

The Yoto Club

Yoto offers a subscription service calledYoto Clubwith three membership tiers at various monthly (or annual) rates. This unlocks unlimited access to hundreds of Yoto originals, members-only titles, store discounts, card credits, free shipping, and more.

While this device can operate as a full-blown Bluetooth speaker, I love that my son can also listen quietly thanks to the3.5mm headphone jack. This is particularly handy when we’re in the car. Because yes — this is the ultimate hack for surviving long road trips with impatient kids.

The battery can last forup to 14 hours per charge, and thedevice can hold over 600 hours of audiofor offline enjoyment — simply download your Yoto cards using Wi-Fi to enjoy countless stories and songs no matter where you are in the world.

The Yoto Mini also operates as an OK-to-wake kids’ alarm clock.People

Beyond being an audio companion, the Yoto Minialso operates as an OK-to-wake clock, which can be life-changing if you live with a little early riser. The clock setting helps kids understand when it’s time to rise and shine — you set the wake-up time, and the Mini’s clock will indicate when it’s time to get up. Plus, the device comes pre-loaded with white noise, sleep sounds, and more to help kids power down before drifting off.

The Yoto Mini app houses a selection of exclusive content, child-friendly podcasts, soundscapes, and more.People

The companion parents’ app, which is required for setting up the Yoto Mini, is packed with exclusive content, child-friendly podcasts, family-friendly radio stations, sleep sounds, and more. This is also where you’ll adjust the settings for your specific player, including volume limits and alarms. Plus, you can see what’s playing on your child’s Yoto player in real time — if you’re curious.

The More You KnowYoto products are available at retailers likeAmazonandTarget, but the selection and stock are extremely limited. If you want to explore the full card library and brand offerings, I suggest shopping directly fromYoto. (But you can always drop a Yoto card or three into your shopping cart during your next Target or Amazon run, too.)

The More You Know

Yoto products are available at retailers likeAmazonandTarget, but the selection and stock are extremely limited. If you want to explore the full card library and brand offerings, I suggest shopping directly fromYoto. (But you can always drop a Yoto card or three into your shopping cart during your next Target or Amazon run, too.)

If you anticipate that your Yoto Mini will face some tough handling, you may also want to grab some accessories to aid in its durability, like asilicone jacketandhardshell travel case. There’s also acard caseto keep your child’s listening collection nice and tidy.

Shop Yoto Accessories

Yoto Mini Adventure Jacket$23 at Amazon$23 at TargetView on Maisonette.comYoto Mini Travel CaseView on Yotoplay.comYoto Card Case$30 at TargetView on Yotoplay.comYoto Wired Headphones$30 at TargetView on Maisonette.comView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Mini Adventure Jacket$23 at Amazon$23 at TargetView on Maisonette.com

Yoto Mini Adventure Jacket

$23 at Amazon$23 at TargetView on Maisonette.com

Yoto Mini Travel CaseView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Mini Travel Case

Yoto Card Case$30 at TargetView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Card Case

$30 at TargetView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Wired Headphones$30 at TargetView on Maisonette.comView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Wired Headphones

$30 at TargetView on Maisonette.comView on Yotoplay.com

I’m not exaggerating when I say the Yoto Mini has been a transformative purchase. My son, who used to see “quiet time” as a form of punishment, now enjoys playing in his room, happily blasting his favorite tunes and dancing around. He even plays music from the Yoto while tidying up his toys or folding his laundry.

In general, it has opened up a world of independent play and exploration. He has developed a keen interest in music that expands beyondCocomelonand nursery rhymes, and the audiobooks have enhanced his vocabulary and helped improve his reading comprehension. Consider me a Yoto fan for life.

Kayla Kittsis a shopping editor for PEOPLE and has been a home and lifestyle editor for over a decade. She has spent the past five years immersed in product testing, including getting her hands onthe year’s hottest toys. As the mom of a 5-year-old, she knows what makes a toy enjoyable for both kids and parents. The Yoto Mini has been instrumental in her goal to minimize screen time, while also giving her child the freedom to select his own listening adventures. Now, whenever people ask her what to buy him for Christmas or his birthday, her answer is always, “More Yoto cards!”

source: people.com