Are Yoto Players Worth the Hype?

Way back in 2020, Hazel gifted me the second-gen Yoto Player, and let me tell you—it’s been one of the best gifts ever. I love its simplicity, creativity, and how well it engages my kids, but what really stands out are the "Make Your Own" cards. Total game changer! But with the season of giving coming up—and Yoto’s new 2024 release, I decided it was time for a little upgrade.

If you're new to Yoto, here’s the scoop: it's like if Montessori principles and a cassette tape had a baby. Yoto (it’s a UK brand) makes a screen-free audio player that kids control using cards. They insert these cards to listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts, or even soothing sounds. It's designed to be educational, fun, and something kids can operate on their own.

What I Love About Yoto | When I was expecting my second child, I worried about how my firstborn would experience such a beautiful (but also very BIG) change. I knew my time would be split between the two, so I looked for ways to stay connected, even while at the hospital. Enter Yoto: I recorded myself singing her favorite songs and reading her books. During those first few days with baby #2, while my eldest stayed with her aunt and uncle, she could still hear my voice. It was such a comfort to both of us.

Fast forward to our new Yoto Mini and I’ve made it a habit to recording the books I read aloud to all my kiddos at night. Every month or two, I upload these recordings to a "Make Your Own" card. It’s created this ever-growing, personalized library that my kids adore. Plus, it’s fun to hear their little voices chiming in with questions and comments on the cards when we re-listen to them.

We also use our Yotos A LOT at betime. We use their sleepy sounds card to let our kiddos know they have about 20 minutes left to wind down. Then we also use the yoto’s toothbrush timer, red night light and white noise button (while they sleep) and then as an alarm for when they wake up (which we can tweak and adjust remotely via our phones).

Yoto’s Nightlight Mode

This what the player looks like as a night light — giving off some great soviet-era-submarine vibes to my kiddos bedroom esthetics.

Timelessness + Durability |

With four years of use, I can confidently say Yoto works for a wide range of ages—from our 9-year-old down to our 2.5-year-old. Is it worth the hype? Absolutely! It’s hands-down one of the most versatile, well-used "toys" in our household.

Our original Yoto has survived quite the adventure. It's been dropped on tile and hardwood floors, even tossed across the room during an enthusiastic bed-making session. The fact that it's still going strong speaks to its durability! The newer models come with an "Adventure Jacket" for extra protection, which I recommend if you want to keep it scratch-free.

Good To Knows | In the Yoto App (not on the players themselves) an adult can access and download content from the Yoto Creators community into their own library. Yoto only allows kid-frinedly creations to be uploaded to the community — but I always double check that anything I upload from there aligns with our family’s values before I give my kiddos access to it.

Price | $100 for the Player, $70 for the Mini Player

Ethics | Before any new supplier joins Yoto they go through and Ethical Audit to make sure supplier’s practices are fair and honest with their employees and within their local communities. Yoto also partners with the Disasters Emergency Committee and also created their own Yoto Carnegies’ that champions librarians and their impact with youth groups.

Sustainability | Yoto doesn’t just deliver on functionality; they’re also big on sustainability. Their offer eco-friendly packaging uses FSC recycled wood waste cardboard and plastic from compostable materials. They also support repair over replacement with their "Project Second Chance" program, which donates old or unused players to children in need. They also created the WEEE (a fun little acronym for their Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Directive) that mandates any Yoto retailer must provide a way for customers the opportunity to recycle their Yoto free of charge.

Here are some pictures of our Yoto that is still going strong after 4 years of rough-and-tumble toddler play. There’s only a few noticable scratches which is honestly amazing considering what it’s been through (and it wasn’t ever sheltered in one of Yoto’s newer nifty Adventure Jackets. I also included a picture of some of our beloved Make Your Own Cards. Here’s a little protip: if you ever need to remove Sharpie from the DIY Yoto cards, just color over it with a dry erase marker. It works like a charm!

C & C Overall Review | Yoto has been an incredible tool for us, especially during our off-grid summer trips to a remote lake we love. Once a card is downloaded, we don’t need Wi-Fi, which means the kids are entertained no matter how far from civilization we are. It’s not just about fun either—Yoto has become a big part of our family’s social scene. Hazel’s kids, along with cousins from my husband’s side, all have Yoto players and create their own custom cards. Whenever we get together, there’s a flurry of card trading that has this fun, Pokémon-trade vibe. They even gift each other custom cards for birthdays, making it a tradition that’s led to some wonderful, unexpected memories.

On the educational front, Yoto brings a lot of value with its podcasts, language learning tools, and non-fiction content, turning learning into something my kids genuinely enjoy. One of the best aspects of Yoto is how it encourages independent play—my kids know exactly how to use it, giving them a sense of autonomy. Plus, it grows with them. The content ranges from simple nursery rhymes for the little ones to more advanced audiobooks and podcasts for when they get older, making it a long-lasting investment. And in our home, Yoto has become part of our peace-time routine. The kids select their favorite songs, mantras, or calming exercises, and we spend 10 minutes unwinding together, all thanks to their mix of Yoto cards and custom recordings.

Do you have a Yoto? Do you love it? Do you recommend something else instead? We’d love to hear from you at end us a message and share your feedback and knowledge.

XOXO,

Lemon