With little kids in the house, we often count on screen time to get breaks for ourselves. However, as amazing as those breaks are, I can often see them deregulated shortly after. I am always on the hunt for alternative activities for them, and we recently discovered the Yoto Reader, a fabulous audible reader for little kids! It is currently our kids favorite item in our household.

There are several benefits of audible stories for young kids, such as the following:

Language: Exposure to a wide range of words and expressions through audible stories helps in expanding a child’s vocabulary. Additionally, listening to well-articulated narratives enhances a child’s understanding of language structures and promotes fluency in communication.

Critical Thinking: Following the plot, characters, and events in a story encourages critical thinking and comprehension skills in children.

Imagination: Audible stories stimulate a child’s imagination as they create mental images of the characters and settings described in the narrative.

Audible stories provide an opportunity for children to explore diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences. Hearing stories from different backgrounds helps foster empathy and understanding of the world around them.

Of course, when selecting audible stories for young kids, it’s essential to choose age-appropriate content and ensure that the narration is engaging and clear. Parents can also listen along with their children and use the opportunity to discuss the stories, fostering a positive and interactive learning experience.

I bought the Yoto Mini Reader. Here are some key features:

Age Range: It is targeted towards kids between 3 and 12-years-old

Physical Cards: You can use physical cards to listen to book recordings, music, sounds, and instructive sounds. There are a few physical cards that are free and others that we pay for.

Yoto App: You can download the Yoto App, and sync the device to it to listen to stories via bluetooth. I prefer giving my kids the physical cards as it makes them more independent (and not consume my telephone battery life)

Speakers: There is a speaker to play it out loud or you can use earphones, as well as Bluetooth

Battery: 14 hours of play for every charge

Various stories and sounds: I was so surprised to see the number of story and music choices available. To see the the huge archive, visit here. My four-year-old son adores the Winnie-the-Pooh stories and my two-year-old daughter loves the cards that play tunes or words for her to repeat. They have some well-known choices like Disney stories, well-known kids’ books (i.e., Gruffalo), and famous characters (i.e., Daniel Tiger).

I initially purhcased the Yoto Mini for our travels, but our son loves it for various purposes! 

Bedtime Routine: Listening to audiobooks can be incorporated into a bedtime routine, helping children relax and unwind before sleep. It can become a comforting and enjoyable ritual for both parents and children. Our son loves listening to this, and it helps them get settled into bed.

Travel: We use the Yoto in the car for the family to listen to, but will purchase headphones as well so that it can be used in the car.

Multi-Tasking Ability: Listening to audiobooks allows children to engage in other activities simultaneously, such as drawing, playing, or even relaxing. This ability to multitask can be beneficial in various situations as they grow older.

If you are interested in an audible story reader for your kids, I strongly suggest the Yoto Mini as a new go-to item for your family. For our other most loved things to take on our family trips, visit my post here.

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