The Best Audio Players for Kids: Yoto, Toniebox, and More
Parents seeking alternatives to screen-based entertainment for young children have found dedicated audio players that enable kids to engage with stories and music independently without tablets or phones. A WIRED reviewer tested several leading products in this category to evaluate how well they serve families attempting to balance childhood entertainment with reduced screen exposure.
Among the tested devices, the Yoto Player emerged as particularly versatile, using physical card-based content selection that children can operate themselves while offering app-based remote functionality for parents. The Moonlite projector represents an alternative approach focused on bedtime storytelling, demonstrating that the category encompasses different products designed to address varying family priorities and age ranges.
In short
- Audio players for children offer screen-free entertainment through music, audiobooks, and interactive stories
- Tested devices like Yoto Player use tangible card-based content selection designed for independent child operation
- Products range in price and features, from compact players to specialized bedtime experiences
Explained simply
Screen-free audio players let children choose stories, music and other recordings without using a phone or tablet. Many use physical cards or figures to start the audio, so young children can operate them with little help.
Yoto and Toniebox are two well-known examples, with content selected through their own systems. Some devices also let parents manage content or playback through an app. Other products, such as story projectors, combine spoken stories with images for bedtime.
These products are part of a wider effort by families to offer entertainment while limiting young children’s screen use. The right choice depends on a child’s age, how they like to listen and what parents want the device to do.