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We’ve used the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini for years, and they’re still our favourite screen-free way to build vocabulary and spark a love for stories.

Originally published: Sep 2021
Updated: Apr 2025

A few years ago, I wrote about how the Yoto Player helped my preschooler improve their vocabulary and develop a real love for storytelling. I didn’t expect that post to resonate with so many parents, but it did. And even now, years later, I still get questions about whether we still use it, and whether I still recommend it.

The short answer? Absolutely.

Both of my children (now aged 4 and 8) still use their Yoto Players regularly. In fact, our family has now added the newer Yoto Mini into the mix, and it’s become an essential part of our daily life.

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth it, or if it’s just another parenting gadget that will collect dust after a few weeks… keep reading. Because the Yoto Player continues to surprise me with just how much value it brings… not only as a screen-free option, but as a tool that has genuinely supported both of my kids’ language development, vocabulary, and independent listening skills.

What is the Yoto Plater?

The Yoto Player is a screen-free audio player for children, which they can easily operate by themselves by inserting Yoto cards into the player.

Yoto - the screen-free audio player for kids

What’s the Yoto Mini and How Is It Different?

The Yoto Mini is a compact, travel-friendly version of the original Yoto Player. It plays all the same cards, has a pixel display, nightlight, and Bluetooth, and connects to the Yoto app for remote control and content management.

But the game changer is its portability. It's small enough to fit in a child’s hand (or in my handbag), which means it now comes with us on car rides, holidays, coffee shop visits, and anywhere I might need 20 quiet minutes.

And yes, it’s just as durable as the original. Ours has survived being dropped, carried around upside down, and occasionally stepped on… and it’s still going strong.

A Look Back: How We Started Using Yoto

We first bought the Yoto Player when my eldest was 3, during the height of the pandemic and while I had a newborn at home. Bedtime had become a daily battle… he wouldn’t sleep in his room, and I simply didn’t have the bandwidth to lie next to him for an hour every night while juggling a baby.

Yoto truly changed that for us. We started playing a Bedtime Meditation card, and the routine quickly became familiar and comforting. He began falling asleep faster, and eventually, on his own. The Yoto became his nightlight, his sleep cue, and his wind-down companion.

It wasn’t just a player; it was a parenting lifeline.

Ryaan listening to his Yoto Player before bed — Our son listening to his Yoto Player before bed

How We Use It Now

What started as a bedtime tool has grown into something we rely on throughout the day, and not just at home. The Yoto Mini, especially, has become a lifesaver in so many situations. It's kept the kids happily entertained on long road trips (most recently on a family drive to Muscat, Oman) where they quietly listened to stories while we took in the landscape and actually had a full conversation in the front seat (imagine that!).

We’ve also brought it to restaurants, which I can’t recommend enough. You know that moment when the kids are done eating and you’re still halfway through a plate of food, trying to catch up with friends? Instead of handing over a phone or rushing to leave, I pop in a card, and they’re instantly absorbed in a story. Everyone wins.

At home, it’s part of our bedtime routine… sometimes with a calming meditation, sometimes with a story from one of their favourite characters. And honestly, on the days where I just don’t have the bandwidth to re-read Frozen for the fifth time that week, it fills the gap with zero guilt.

Living in the UAE, where tech is everywhere and screen time is practically built into the culture, it’s important for us to make conscious choices about how our kids engage with media. Yoto gives us that balance: a screen-free, ad-free experience that still keeps them learning, building vocabulary, and being introduced to classic literature and storytelling. It’s the kind of tool that lets them grow and lets me exhale.

The Content Library Has Expanded

When we first started using Yoto, the card library was great… but now it’s massive. The range includes:

Chapter books: Harry Potter, Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, The Wishing Chair, and more
STEM and educational content
Disney classics, nursery rhymes, and music cards
Bilingual stories and language learning
Yoto Daily, Yoto Sleep Radio, and free content updated often

The best part is how age-appropriate and well-curated it all is. There’s truly something for toddlers, preschoolers, and even upper primary-aged kids.

If you are looking for screen-free entertainment for your child, or struggle with bedtime, or even just want a break from reading the same stories a hundred times over, definitely invest in a Yoto Player. You will not regret it.

Yes, It Still Helps with Vocabulary

Back when we first got Yoto, I noticed an immediate improvement in vocabulary. The daily exposure to rich language, new phrases, and expressive narration really stood out, especially as my son progressed from simple stories to full chapter books.

Now at age 8, he listens to longer series like Harry Potter, and the storytelling structure and descriptive vocabulary have noticeably expanded his understanding and expression. My 4-year-old is following the same path… her listening habits are helping her absorb new words long before she’s reading them on paper.

It’s such a simple yet powerful way to build language skills through daily listening.

We’ve followed a Montessori-inspired approach to language development at home, and what I love about Yoto is how naturally it fits into that philosophy. It supports independent learning, rich vocabulary exposure, and a love of language, all without relying on screens or flashy gimmicks. It complements everything from sound games to storytelling, and it’s become one of our go-to tools for quiet, purposeful listening.

**Want to see how it all connects?**

Sign up for my newsletter below and get instant access to my *Montessori Language Cheatsheet*… a free visual guide showing how the different Montessori language materials fit together from toddler to early reader stage.

Make Your Own Cards = Endless Possibilities

We still use the Make Your Own cards, and they’re one of my favourite features. I’ve recorded family voices reading favourite stories, uploaded calming music playlists, and even saved silly jokes and messages that the kids love playing again and again.

We keep them in a basket with their official Yoto cards, and I’ve even drawn little illustrations on the blank ones so they can recognise what each card is for. It adds a personal touch, and it’s a lovely way to involve the whole family in their listening experience.

What I Still Love Most

Truly screen-free: No screens, ads, microphones, or random distractions
So easy to use: Both kids can handle the player totally on their own
Grows with your child: The card library keeps expanding with age and interest
Durable and travel-ready: Survives drops, long trips, and enthusiastic little hands
Battery lasts for days: Especially with the Yoto Mini
Great parental controls: Through the Yoto app I can limit volume, manage cards, and play audio from my phone

The Yoto Player and Yoto Mini have become staples in our home, and I can honestly say they’ve stood the test of time. Years later, we’re still using them daily… and they continue to grow with our kids.

Whether you’re hoping to cut back on screens, support your child’s language development, or just find something meaningful and independent for them to do during quiet time, I can’t recommend Yoto enough.

Still have questions?
Drop a comment or send me a message on Instagram @east2westmama… I’m always happy to share more about how we use ours.

How the Yoto Player (and Yoto Mini) Are Still Helping My Kids Build Their Vocabulary Years Later