In a world where screens constantly clamour for our children\u2019s attention, the Yoto is a breath of fresh air. Aimed at kids aged three and over, the audio players offer a mix of stories, podcasts, and music. And most importantly, aside from the initial set-up of the system, they aren\u2019t dependent on a smartphone. <\/p>\n
If you aren\u2019t familiar with the Yoto system, it has two options: the full-sized player and the portable Yoto Mini. Both work with physical cards \u2013 NFC (near field communication) enabled \u2013 that you insert into the player, or with digital ones through the Yoto app. <\/p>\n
Kids have access to more than 1,000 titles, from well-known audiobooks such as Matilda and Diary of a Wimpy Kid to cards with information and quizzes on the flags of the world and ancient Rome. You can even record your own stories to play back. Any cards you insert into the player are downloaded to the device over wifi, where they are stored safely for easy playback. <\/p>\n
The Yoto Mini is now in its fourth generation. It keeps all the best things about the previous versions of the Yoto Mini, and adds a few new extras to justify raising the price to almost \u20ac100. <\/p>\n
[\u00a0\u2018We banned television and screens after a sad epiphany during an episode of Bluey\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n The design is still very child-friendly. It has all rounded edges and easy-to-use controls, with two dials on the front for controlling volume and changing tracks. It has a power button and a small screen that displays the time, helps you select content, and shows you the battery level. If you want your children to keep the audio to themselves, there is a headphone jack; you can also use Bluetooth headphones with the player. <\/p>\n So what is new about the Yoto Mini? It comes with a new processor and downloads content faster than its predecessor. Another new addition is the green side button, which takes over playing and pausing tracks, and also gives quick access to a playlist of up to 20 of your child\u2019s favourite cards. <\/p>\n You create these playlists through the Yoto app, which is installed on a parent\u2019s phone, mixing cards with podcasts or your own recordings. <\/p>\n That\u2019s not all the app does. Aside from the initial set-up of the player \u2013 connecting it to wifi \u2013 and managing the library of stories, the app also gives you control over settings on the player. You can set limitations on how loud the player will go, with different settings for daytime listening and night, along with battery management options and alarms. <\/p>\n