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

I’m convinced this is the greatest toy of all time

If I had to choose the best gift my 5-year-old son has received from his vast collection of toys, it would have to be the Yoto 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.

Related: The Absolute Best Toys We Tested in 2024 Include Ideas for All Ages

Yoto Mini Player

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Target.com

As a child of the '90s, I always had my Discman with me. While my parents played their music 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 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. 

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. The Yoto card library is expansive, too, with over 1,000 options to choose from. You’ll find classic stories retold, music compilations, favorite characters, sleep sounds, and so much more.

Our Favorite Yoto Player Cards

Although there are countless pre-made cards to choose from, I love the Make Your Own card option. These blank cards can hold up to 100 audio tracks, making them perfect for anything from a cherished story recorded by a distant family member to a personalized mixtape of favorite songs. The best part is that you can edit and add to them as often as you like.

The Yoto Club

Yoto offers a subscription service called Yoto Club with 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.

Our Make Your Own card we’ve lovingly dubbed the “Chaotic Random Mix” definitely gets the most action. It’s a wild journey of songs that goes from “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from Disney’s Lilo & Stitch to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and ends on “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen. And we’re always adding to it as my son discovers new songs he decides he wants to hear on repeat.

Related: The 3 Best Record Players of 2024, Tested by Our Editors

While this device can operate as a full-blown Bluetooth speaker, I love that my son can also listen quietly thanks to the 3.5mm 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 for up to 14 hours per charge, and the device can hold over 600 hours of audio for offline enjoyment — simply download your Yoto cards using Wi-Fi to enjoy countless stories and songs no matter where you are in the world.

Beyond being an audio companion, the Yoto Mini also 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 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 Know

Yoto products are available at retailers like Amazon and Target, but the selection and stock are extremely limited. If you want to explore the full card library and brand offerings, I suggest shopping directly from Yoto. (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 a silicone jacket and hardshell travel case. There’s also a card case to keep your child's listening collection nice and tidy.

Shop Yoto Accessories

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 beyond Cocomelon and nursery rhymes, and the audiobooks have enhanced his vocabulary and helped improve his reading comprehension. Consider me a Yoto fan for life.

Why Trust PEOPLE? 

Kayla Kitts is 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 on the 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!”

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