The player comes highly recommended by Mumsnetters - often mentioned in discussions about the best toys for two-year-olds and three-year-olds. But with parents’ smartphones able to play audiobooks and kid-friendly music, is it really worth investing in a piece of tech specifically for young children? The Yoto Mini gets charged with a USB-C cable, and then it will hold a charge for 18-20 hours, depending on whether or not you’re using WiFi with it. Yoto Mini’s Sound Quality Of course, you’ll also need to use WiFi if you want to stream podcasts from your Yoto App. There’s a few podcasts available in the app and we don’t have the cards. I’m able to just play the podcast from my phone, and it plays through their Yoto speakers. Battery Life for the Yoto Mini

Gain access to free content, including podcasts and radio stations that can be streamed through the Yoto players Kids can wear headphones with them, which makes it a great tool for long car rides or flights. At the same time, we use ours for daily use at bedtime and bath time. A Yoto Mini is a screen-free smart speaker designed for children. It's a small, colourful device that can be used to play a variety of audio, including music, stories, and educational content. The device is controlled using physical cards that are inserted into a slot at the top of the player - each card represents a different story, music collection, activity, podcast or radio station. The Yoto Mini also has built-in WiFi connectivity, which allows it to access additional content from the Yoto app. It’s a great way to serve up great entertainment to your kids without putting a screen in front of them. Our kids listen to the Yoto mini in the bathtub, while doing chores, and on long car rides. What is the difference between Yoto and Yoto Mini? Our tester gave the Yoto Mini an impressive 5/5 stars. As an age-appropriate introduction to tech, it’s hard to beat.Everything about the Yoto Mini is smaller, and that’s the main difference. The Yoto Mini is meant to be handheld even for little bitty hands. The box is 1.57 x 2.76 x 2.76 inches and only 9.6 ounces; whereas the original Yoto is a bulkier 4.3 x 4.3 x 4 inches and weighs 2.4 pounds. If you’ve got a voracious reader who is into chapter books, you can scoop up cards like the Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, the Magic Treehouse Collection, or any of the Roald Dahl books. Using The Yoto App If I could only choose one player for our family, I’d probably choose the Yoto Mini. While it’s cool to have some of the nightlight and okay-to-wake features available on the original Yoto player, the portability and charging features on the Yoto Mini are just too excellent to ignore. Looking for a safe, fun and easy-to-use audio player for young children? The Yoto Mini could be just what you need. With its simple design and range of age-appropriate content, the device is designed with little ones in mind.

It’s a portable audio player that has been on many cross-country flights in our family. It’s truly the perfect size! However, the original Yoto is really great if you’re looking for one tool to do a bunch of features. Being able to use one device for both entertainment and sleep training is pretty special. The wonderful thing about the Yoto is how well it grows with kids. If your child has a tiny attention span, you can choose fun music and nursery rhymes, or super short stories to fill your collection of Yoto cards.

The Yoto Mini is a great device for parents who want to reduce screen time while still having some tech for their kids. It's useful for children of all ages, and makes a great introduction to the world of technology. With its simple card system and chunky buttons, the device is easy to use and allows children to select and play their own content independently. The Yoto Mini is great looking, and we loved its minimalist design as soon as we laid eyes on it. In terms of getting it set up, as long as you have a strong WiFi connection, it couldn’t be easier. I think it’s a great deal, if your family loves the toy half as much as we do. The Yoto app is always easy to use. Concluding Thoughts for this Yoto Mini Review Most technology is not suited to toddlers, but there’s no “screen time” that requires mindfulness here. It’s the perfect toy for younger children because the cards are incredibly sturdy and not the least bit dangerous for kids who love to explore.

If you’re interested in my review of the best Yoto cards (sorted by age group), I’ve got ya covered! I wrote all about our 27 favorite cards. Does Yoto Mini need to be plugged in? The Yoto Mini works like the original Yoto in this way. You need WiFi to set up the Yoto Mini at first, and then Wifi is needed anytime a brand new card is put in. After any physical cards have been played through once, you never need Wifi again. That’s what makes the Yoto Mini so cool! Kids can listen the first time at home, and then easily listen to stories on an airplane, in the car, or anywhere that WiFi is normally a barrier to entertainment! So naturally, when my sweet sister-in-law gifted us with the Yoto Minifor our two year old’s birthday, I felt it necessary to write this Yoto Mini review . The difference between a Yoto Mini and the slightly more expensive Yoto Player is size - the Yoto Player is simply a larger version with all the same functions.I actually love the Yoto Mini for toddlers because the yoto mini’s size is perfect for small hands. The only downside is that once in a while, the card slot will end up with a coin in it, but it’s large enough that you can usually dig things out with a paper clip.

Read next: For more great gift ideas for little ones, take a look at our guide to the best toys for 3-year-olds. How child-friendly is it? Our family goes on quite a few long trips. We fly several times a year to see family and also do a 4 hour drive to see my parents every 4-6 weeks. In an ideal scenario, all three of my kids would have their own Yoto Mini and share a great big collection of cards. I would love that, because they would be quietly entertained, getting smarter all the way, and it would cut down on their screen time. You’ve got to remember that Yoto isn’t going for picture quality. This is a toy that’s meant to reduce screen time, not increase it! Does Yoto Mini need WiFi? Use the sleep training feature by adjusting sleep time and wake time on the original Yoto (not a feature of the Mini)

Will it last?

The Yoto Mini is a wonderful toy for kids between ages 18 months and 12 years old. I have a more mature 7 year old girl who has always loved stories. I cannot imagine her giving up her Yoto obsession until she’s at least 12. Update: She’s now 9 and listens to her Yoto Mini regularly, especially when she gets gifted a new chapter book. I think any older children would enjoy a Yoto, but especially those who don’t already use screens at home. In our family, both devices get daily play, and I’m glad I’m not forced to choose! Do I Need Yoto Accessories? Read next: Yoto Mini vs Toniebox: which is the best screen-free audio player? Where to buy a Yoto Mini and Yoto cards Another difference is how it’s charged. The original Yoto sits on a special charger; whereas the Yoto Mini uses a standard USB-C, making it easier to juice up anywhere you go (including the car).