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I’ve branded myself as the “queen of travel” with little kids. While I haven’t quit my job to travel the world with them, I do love showing them the world and exposing them to cultures that aren’t our own. But… I hated road trips with our toddlers. As parents who don’t use iPads, I found car rides to be excruciating, full of complaining and boredom. I really didn’t want to cave to screens, but I figured there had to be another option… and right, I was. Enter: the Yoto Player ($99.99).
What we love
- A great alternative to screens
- Well-priced
- Mini option available
- So many great characters and cards to choose from
- Smart, parent-friendly accessories available
The not so good parts
- Harder for littler kids to use
- Older Yotos don’t support Bluetooth headphones
- Cards can get lost easily
What’s a Yoto?
The Yoto player, at its simplest level, is an audio player that allows kids to play different stories and songs with little plastic cards. It also displays slow, pixelated images with some stories that keep them interested, but not overstimulated. About 5 by 5 inches, it’s a bigger toy for packing light, but one we’ve found to be a travel staple.
The Yoto is designed for kids ages 3-12 with the goal to inspire imagination and independence. Beyond the cute songs and stories, I personally love the fact that it has no microphone, no camera, and no ads… so I know exactly what my son is listening to… and that he’s not being listened to in return.
Small Beginnings
I love a good founder story that includes somebody who truly understands the problem they’re solving: Ben and Filip, two dads who spent time in the music industry, are just that. They, like many parents, felt the push-and-pull of independent play and screen time. Having researched the Montessori teachings, they came up with the idea for Yoto and quickly got to work. Since launching, the duo has created 3 generations of the Yoto player, plus the Yoto mini ($69.99), showing their true commitment to bettering the device and supporting parents. Perhaps my favorite part is their work in licensing and the vast library of cards they offer. If your kid is into Avengers or Mulan or Encanto or even Roald Dahl, there’s a card for them.
A Three-Year-Old’s Take
When we first got the Yoto, our son wasn’t quite 3. His favorite part, admittedly, was pulling the cards in and out of the player. He found it to be a great deal of fun and could do that for maybe 10 minutes at a time. That’s well and good… except for when you’re in the car and the cards go flying! That, of course, is not fun for anyone. Once he got a little closer to that 3-mark, the Yoto became more of a staple for him. He could lock in for longer, recognize more characters, and not lose the cards so much.
As a semi-beige Mom, I really don’t do a lot of “character” things in our house. Even down to our toys (mostly wooden), characters, and action figures are not a staple. But… it’s so clear my kids love certain characters, especially Paw Patrol and Elmo. I want so desperately to give them those things to connect to, while maintaining a level of aesthetics in our home. I love that the Yoto gives him that.
Our son loves to hear about music, Elmo, and Paw Patrol in his Yoto, and it is so sweet to watch him light up! We try not to get new cards too often, but it’s a super easy ask of grandparents or friends who might not know what to gift them for a birthday or Christmas. Plus… when he opens up new cards, he knows exactly what they’re for and the gift-giver feels like a million bucks! Everyone wins.
To Buy or Not to Buy?
All in all, the Yoto Player has become a real staple in our family… and not just for travel, but for quiet time at home too. It’s not perfect (hi, lost cards and Bluetooth headphone woes), but it’s the closest thing I’ve found to a screen-free solution that actually works and keeps my kids engaged. It’s thoughtful, well-designed, and offers that sweet spot between character joy and parental peace of mind. If you’re looking for a way to make car rides (or life in general) a little easier without handing over an iPad, the Yoto might just be your new best friend.
Ditch the screen (and keep your sanity!) with the Yoto Player today.
