Why the Yoto Mini is my must-have travel companion for keeping kids entertained in the summer holidays
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We already love our original Yoto, but the Yoto Mini looks perfect for long car journeys.
As a parent, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the summer holidays. On the one hand, I love having more time together as a family, making memories, and enjoying days out. On the other hand, six weeks is a long time to keep little ones entertained especially when you're facing long car journeys.
For anyone unfamiliar, Yoto is a screen-free audio player designed for children. Instead of scrolling through apps or staring at a screen, kids simply pop in a card and listen to stories, music, podcasts, educational content, and more. It's easy enough for little hands to use independently, which is a huge win.
This summer, though, we're planning to add another device to our collection. The Yoto Mini brings everything we already love about Yoto but in a much more compact, travel-friendly design. It's small enough to fit easily into a backpack, changing bag, or even a child's travel bag, making it ideal for days out and family holidays.
We're planning a few trips over the summer, and keeping a child entertained in the back seat for hours can be challenging. While screens can feel like the easiest solution, they often lead to overstimulation, arguments over what to watch, or complaints when battery life inevitably runs low.
The Yoto Mini offers a different kind of entertainment. My son can listen to his favourite stories, sing along to music, or explore educational content without staring at a screen for hours. It keeps him engaged while still allowing him to use his imagination something that's becoming increasingly rare in a world dominated by tablets and smartphones.
Another feature I really appreciate is the simplicity of the device. There is no microphone, no camera, and no ads. As a parent, that's reassuring. I don't have to worry about unexpected content popping up or my child accidentally accessing something inappropriate.
The fact that it's designed specifically for travel is what has convinced me to treat my son to one this summer. Whether we're heading off on a family holiday, visiting relatives, or simply tackling a long drive, having a portable library of stories and music at our fingertips feels like a game-changer.
The Yoto Mini feels like the perfect compromise. It keeps children happy and entertained, gives parents a little breathing room, and provides all the fun of Yoto in a compact device that's ready to go wherever summer takes you.
Natalie Dixon is our Lifestyle reporter, if you liked this article and want to read more about fashion, beauty and lifestyle you can follow Natalie Dixon on X here.
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