'I found a screen-time alternative for my toddler that's £600 cheaper than iPad'
There's no denying that excessive screen time isn't good for kids and something to be avoided where possible
Screen time has become a major talking point amongst parents lately, particularly as it features prominently in the forthcoming Toy Story 5 film, arriving this summer. As a father of a nearly two-year-old son, it's an issue I regularly grapple with.
While there are moments when you need something to occupy him briefly — perhaps while preparing dinner — there's no getting around the fact that too much screen time isn't beneficial for young children and ought to be limited wherever feasible. It's precisely why screen-free options have surged in popularity in recent years.
One such alternative is the Yoto Player, a device aimed at children aged 3-12+ that's designed to "inspire imagination and independence". I was thrilled to put one through its paces with my son, Teddy. While he's slightly younger than the recommended age range, he's exceptionally sharp and still enjoyed it, reports the Mirror.
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For anyone unfamiliar with the Yoto Player, it retails at £89.99 and delivers a universe of stories, music, educational content and adventure in a secure, child-appropriate format. Users simply insert a Yoto card and away they go.
Importantly, there's no microphone, camera or advertising, unlike countless modern devices available today. Getting started is straightforward — simply download an app, follow a few basic instructions to connect it to your Wi-Fi, and you're all set.
Operating the Yoto Player couldn't be easier, with a card slot at the top (cards are purchased separately and feature plenty of beloved stories, characters and music), plus two chunky orange buttons for adjusting volume, selecting tracks and accessing a library of complimentary content. Yoto offers a continuously growing library of over 1,000 audio titles, spanning childhood favourites such as The Gruffalo and the complete Harry Potter series, through to iconic tunes from the Spice Girls and the Beatles. Beyond Yoto's licensed catalogue, there's also Yoto Studios.
I was very impressed with all the functions that come with the Yoto Player
This division creates Yoto Originals content produced by an in-house team dedicated to crafting inspiring audio for children of all ages, collaborating with world-class authors, award-winning musicians, creatives and sound artists. The device is fairly intuitive and something young children would likely master quite quickly with a little guidance.
A complimentary 'make your own' card is included as well, enabling parents to upload their child's favourite sounds onto a personalised card. This means family members can even record themselves reading, singing or creating daft noises, which are then saved onto their own card.
I'm particularly fond of the free radio feature, which delivers a range of child-appropriate music to keep them occupied, and I've actually caught myself dancing along to a couple of tracks. The addition of a night light is a useful extra too, activated simply by turning the Yoto Player face down and selecting from seven colours to help make settling down for the night a little easier.
It's brilliant for bedtime as well, with options like sleep sounds, white noise, and a room thermometer. It even includes an Ok-to-wake function that signals to children when it's appropriate to rise.
There are several additional benefits I appreciate, too, such as the option to use it as a Bluetooth speaker, connect it with headphones, or sync it to your vehicle so everyone can enjoy listening together. There's something rather special about the product in how it enables youngsters to engage with that sense of childhood wonder that's been somewhat diminished by endless television and smartphones.
One aspect I would mention is that it's slightly weighty, which is actually a positive as it feels solidly constructed, though I'll need to ensure my son doesn't accidentally drop it to prevent any breakage. Another well-liked audio gadget is the Toniebox, available for £99.99 on Amazon.
These work differently from Yoto Players, in that figurines are placed on the units to activate stories and music, rather than cards. Children place a Tonie or Tonieplay game atop the Toniebox and squeeze, tilt, tap and turn to explore, while it's also screen-free.
The Voxblock is another screen-free option that focuses specifically on books. Priced at £59.99 on Amazon, it requires no connectivity, so there's no need for Wi-Fi or apps.
On Trustpilot, customers have expressed strong praise for the Yoto Player. One wrote: "3rd generation is great. We are very happy with the podcasts. It teaches my kids so much!"
Another continued: "Our 4-year-old loves his Yoto box. It's been fun to watch him grow into the stories - initially Paw Patrol and now loves the ladybird nature cards and some longer stories. Helps decrease how much he requests to watch something."
A third added: "We love our Yoto! My son is 10 and I thought it may be "too young" for him, but he is an audiobook lover and takes his Yoto everywhere! I love the battery life of this larger one, so I don't have to worry about it dying on a car trip."
That said, some purchasers knocked off a star, with one noting: "Kid loves it, app is nice, but you do need a good starter pack of story cards to get a kid interested initially."