Does your child love phonics and reading? If your child is an early or emerging reader and the books sent from school just aren’t enough, or is a reluctant reader who needs a little extra encouragement, a Reading Chest Book Subscription can be a great way to expand their vocabulary and introduce them to a wide range of fiction and non fiction titles.
It’s no secret that we are huge book lovers in this house. As an avid reader myself, I now have two daughters who have really really enjoyed learning to read and reading for pleasure. My youngest in particular (aged six) loves learning about the world around her through informative non-fiction books, or escaping into an imaginary world of magic and adventure through a variety of children’s fiction titles.
Throughout our children’s reading journey, we’ve noticed that whilst there are lots of children’s titles, our local libraries don’t always have a great selection of books for early readers – books where we could be confident that their phonics skills and language development will be supported in a way that matches the school curriculum.
Neve is rapidly approaching the phonics test at the end of Year 1, so when Reading Chest got in touch to see if we wanted to review the book subscription, it felt like it was meant to be! You can read our full Reading Chest review below.
What is Reading Chest?
Reading Chest is a book subscription service for children aged 4-9 years. This could be those who are just at the start of their reading journey, or fluent readers who are rapidly reading through the books supplied by school and want to supplement their reading.
We have previously found it hard to buy or borrow books from the library that properly match our child’s reading ability. The phonics based books provided by Reading Chest are designed to support the school book lending library, with a choice of books from recognised book schemes including Alphakids, Oxford Reading Tree, Bug Club and many more. This means you can pick books from your child’s exact reading level and move them up at the same pace as their in-school experience.
How does Reading Chest work?
You start by choosing your subscription package. There are three different subscription models to choose from (Bronze, Silver and Gold) depending on how many children you have, how many books you want to receive initially and how many swaps you want to make each month.
The Bronze package is ideal for families with one child and allows two swaps each month. The Silver and Gold packages can be split between two children (even if they are of differing reading ability), The Silver package allows up to four swaps a month, where as Gold offers unlimited swaps – ideal for those mini bookworms!
We opted for a Silver package which we split between the two girls – both of whom are different ages and as such have a different level of reading ability.
How much does it cost?
Prices start at £11.95 month for Bronze, £19.95 a month for Silver or £24.95 a month for Gold.
How do you ensure the books are the right level for your child?
When you sign up, you are asked to advise your child’s current reading level from the recognised national curriculum. If you are unsure, you can find this out by looking at what colour the spines are on the books sent home from school, or asking their teacher. Reading Chest also have some helpful sample pages on their site if you want to test some reading and see which level your child can read without too much difficulty.
What kind of books do you get?
Once you’ve selected your child’s reading level., you can can opt to receive Fiction books, Non-Fiction books or both, before selecting from a wide choice of recognised reading schemes. Unless your child is homeschooled, you may wish to unselect the scheme which is used at your child’s school, as this will prevent you from getting duplicates in your Reading Chest subscription.
We wanted to have a good variety of books for our Reading Chest review, so ticked all the options, including all schemes and a combination of both fiction and non-fiction reads.
Whilst we loved the surprise element (Neve loved ripping open the envelope when she received her swap), you can also login to see what books are coming up in each scheme. You can add books to a favourites list if they look appealing, or book bin if they don’t meet your preferences. If you favourite a book, it will be prioritised next time you do your swap.
What do you get at the start?
When you receive your first Reading Chest delivery, you get a number of extras including your first batch of books.
First up is a drawstring Reading Chest bag in red, which is a great way to store the books to keep them safe. We have on occasion lost library books around the house, so this was a welcome addition for peace of mind, knowing I could always find the books amongst our own collection.
Next was a large progress poster and sticker sheet, allowing your child to pop on a star every time they’ve read a book. Neve loved this so much as she finds reward charts incredibly motivating. Once your child has read 20 books or has moved up a book band, you can even apply online for a certificate to recognise their progress. How cute!
Neve also loved the little bookmark included in the pack – something to mark her progress during those longer, more extended reads.
How do the returns work?
When your child has completed their books, you simply post them back to Reading Chest in the pre paid envelope provided. This then returns the books to Reading Chest who will pack up and send out your replacements. Our replacements came incredibly quickly and addressed directly to the kids, it’s exciting to get their very own post too,
It’s worth noting that you can keep the books as long as you like, so the number of swaps each month for your package is a maximum. If your child is particularly enjoying a book, you can hold on to it and read it multiple times.
Reading Chest – Our Experience
Overall, we’ve had a really positive experience with Reading Chest. I was really impressed with the variety of books available and how they mirrored the style of books received from school – even with the questions on the last page to check comprehension and understanding.
I love that the scheme can be tailored around your child’s needs and preferences, and it is super easy to change the reading level on your personal dashboard as your child progresses.
Posting back is quick and easy (although sometimes the envelope had to be folded slightly to fit) and we received our swaps far more quickly than I expected.
I feel Reading Chest is excellent value for money, especially the silver or gold packages where you can share the programme between two siblings. As a mother of two, this met our needs really well.
Is there anything I’d change about it? Not really. My eldest daughter is now 10, so falls outside the scope of Reading Chest. Perhaps it would be great to see some titles for 10-12 year olds that include some kind of comprehension, inference or writing exercises at the end, as this would be a great way to support their english skills at home.
You can learn more about Reading Chest and their range of book subscription packages on their website here.
It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of Yoto – the kid’s audio player which puts children in control of audio content such as books, music, meditations, educational content and more, including free podcasts, radio and soundscapes. Having owned both a Yoto Mini and 2nd generation Yoto Player for some time now, we were super excited when the brand new 3rd generation Yoto Player was released in Summer 2023. Read on for our full Yoto Player 3rd Generation review and for everything you need to know about the new addition to the Yoto family!
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If you’re brand new to Yoto, it’s probably worth reading my original Yoto Player Review first, as this will outline everything you need to know about the Yoto Player, Yoto Cards and the main benefits of using a Yoto with your family. This post focuses on the differences between the Yoto 2nd Generation Player and their newest release – the Yoto Player 3rd generation, which launched on the 15th June 2023.
The Yoto Box Player is an easy-to-use, robust and durable cube-shaped audio player, which unlike other connected audio players such as Alexa and Google Home is made specifically for kids. With no ads, camera or microphone, you don’t have to worry about privacy or your children accessing age-inappropriate content.
With a large pixel screen and clock, the Yoto Player story box can be used to play a range of content including stories, radio, podcasts and sleep sounds. With simple and intuitive controls, it’s easy enough for your child to operate themselves, promoting independence and independent play.
Content is played in the form of Yoto Cards, which are inserted into to the top of the Yoto box. With over 700 Yoto cards to choose from (sold at both Yoto’s online store and Amazon) as well as the ability to Make Your Own (MYO), the Yoto Player offers fun, screen-free entertainment for kids whether that’s during travel or as part of your bedtime routine.
What age is the Yoto Player for?
The Yoto Player is great for children (and adults) of all ages, although officially its aimed at children between 3 and 12 years. All of the Yoto Cards come with age recommendations, so you can choose content that best suits your child’s age and interests.
When was the Yoto Player 3rd Generation released?
The 3rd Generation Yoto Player was announced by Yoto on the 7th June 2023, with the official release date having taken place on Thursday 15th June 2023.
How much does the new Yoto 3rd Generation Player cost?
The Yoto Player 3rd Generation retails at an RRP of £99.99 – just £10 more than the 2nd generation Yoto Player.
What are the main differences between the Yoto 2nd Generation and Yoto 3rd Generation player?
Visually, the 3rd generation Yoto Player is very similar to the original, with the majority of changes relating to product improvements or enhanced features including enhanced battery life, greater storage capacity and the ability to be used with wireless headphones.
The main differences between the 2nd generation Yoto Player and 3rd generation Yoto player are outlined below – the following Yoto Player 3rd generation review will cover more detail about all of these points.
You can see our talk through of the main differences and see the 3rd generation and 2nd generation Yoto players side by side in my unboxing and Yoto Player 3rd Generation review video below.
What does the 3rd generation Yoto Player look like?
To look at, the third generation Yoto Player is quite similar to the 2nd generation, measuring the same size as the original, with identical dimensions and the same overall shape. There are some minor aesthetic differences, however. Firstly the power button has moved into the centre (height-wise) of the right-hand side (where it was previously located at the bottom). In my opinion, this makes it easier for young hands to find and press when required.
The 3rd generation Yoto Player has the addition of a USB-C charging port and the recessed section at the base for the magnetic dock has been removed – as this is no longer required. More on charging later.
One of the most noticeable (and important) physical differences between the Yoto 3rd and 2nd genreation is the pixellated screen. On the 2nd generation Yoto Player, the screen lies completely flush, whereas the 3rd generation has a slightly bevelled edge, a little like you would see with a phone in a case. This makes it more hardwearing and durable when being turned over between nightlight and screen modes – a real positive if your child is a little on the heavy-handed side.
The nightlight looks slightly different too, being slightly more central on the top of the player. Yoto have updated the nightlight to create more ambient lighting when the lights go out. The choice of 7 nightlight colours still applies.
Does the 3rd generation Yoto Player still use the same cards?
Yes, all of the Yoto cards including original stories, music, meditations and make your own cards are still completely compatible with the new device, and if you upgrade to the 3rd generation Yoto Player, you can link it to your existing card library in the Yoto app.
How much storage does the Yoto 3rd generation player have?
One of the big improvements in functionality from the 3rd generation Yoto is that it has DOUBLE the storage capacirty of the original – with 32GB rather than 16. This means if you are planning to use the Yoto outside of the home – such as during travel, on holiday or when visiting friends with no wifi connection, you can hold significantly more content directly on the device to access offline. 32gb is enough storage for around 600 hours of content – which is a pretty impressive upgrade.
With a whole host of exciting content and new Yoto cards expected in 2023, this extra storage capacity is a welcome addition.
How do you charge the Yoto 3rd generation player?
Unlike the original charging dock on the Yoto 2nd generation, the 3rd generation Yoto Player comes with a USB/C charger cable included, making it far easier to charge where ever you may be. It doesn’t come with the plug itself, which could be an issue for some, but in 2023, I’d say most of us have a steady supply of these in our homes built up from other devices over the years. The USB/C charger is a good addition – it means you can charge with a plug in a traditional socket, or via your in car charger or laptop.
My first concern around the new charging method was around overnight use. My girls love the nightlight and ok to wake clock, sleep sounds and alarms on the Yoto, and as such, we tend to keep our 2nd generation Yoto sat on the charging dock all the time. Off charge, the screen will turn itself off to preserve battery after a few minutes unless you change these in the Yoto app settings. If you do want to use it in your child’s bedroom without being on charge, you will need to turn off the battery saver and auto power off modes to ensure the screen stays on all night long.
Alternatively, Yoto will also be selling a Yoto wireless dock (available to buy separately with an RRP of £29.99), which will allow you to charge in the more traditional way. The new dock also allows the player to be swivelled from side to side whilst sitting on the dock. It’s worth noting that the magnetic charging dock from the original Yoto player will not be compatible with the 3rd generation model.
The battery life is significantly improved from the 2nd generation player – three times as much in fact. The new Yoto Player offers up to 24 hours battery life, meaning you’ll need to charge it far less often than the original. This also means that if you are turning off the auto power off and battery saver modes, you will still get a whole nights of charge and can simply recharge it during the day.
What headphones can I use with the Yoto 3rd generation player?
The 2nd generation Yoto Player was only compatible with wired headphones using a 3.5mm jack with bluetooth an option only when using the beta software.
The 3rd generation Yoto player now has Bluetooth technology, so whilst you can still use wired headphones (including the original Yoto headphones) you can also use wireless designs such as Pogs, Belkin or even the newly released Yoto Wireless headphones. We love the fact that the Yoto player can now be enjoyed wirelessly, as this allows your children to dance, play and move around much more whilst listening to their favourite yoto cards.
If you already have some headphones – you the wireless set cos with a daisy chain cable so you can link to another wired set for siblings to share audio too.
The Yoto Wireless Headphones retail at £34.99. They come in the brands classic orange colour, are foldable for easy storage and can be used with noise limiting technology to protect your child’s delicate ears. With up to 20 hours wireless battery life – we’re pretty sure these will be a hit with the girls.
In the summer months in particular, having a thermometer in your child’s bedroom can be great for peace of mind. Now, the Yoto 3rd gen has a built in thermometer, meaning you can check the app to see the temperature of your child’s room at any time in both degrees celcius and farenheit.
The new Yoto app update (which is coming soon) will enable the Yoto app to send alerts if the temperature in your child’s room becomes too hot or too cold. It’s worth noting that the temperature isn’t displayed on the player itself, but I still think this is a really helpful and useful feature for parents.
Is there a difference in sound quality?
There is a noticeable improvement in sound quality on the 3rd generation Yoto Player when compared to the 2nd. On our original 2nd gen player, we would occasionally notice a slightly ‘tinny’ sound when the volume was set on high. The new Yoto player has been built with acoustically engineered studio sound, and whilst I wasn’t expecting to notice much difference, it was apparent almost immediately, especially when the volume was set on high. I think this will make a big difference with Yoto music cards, radio and sleep sounds in particular.
Yoto have also released some new accessories for the 3rd generation Yoto Player, with more expected in 2023. This includes new 3rd generation player adventure jackets.
It’s worth noting that due to slightly different button layouts on the new Yoto Player, the original adventure jackets will not fit on the new design. To be more specific – they do in theory fit, but the on button would be hidden by the casing and the USB charging point would be slightly restricted by the case. You could in theory stretch it a bit, but it’s far better to get a new case that perfectly fits the new button layout.
The 3rd generation adventure jackets now come in the more muted pastel shades available on the Yoto Mini, including the gorgeous frog soup shade pictured below. Owners of the 2nd gen may be disappointed that these colours wont be appearing for the original adventure jackets.
The June 2023 Yoto press event was very much focused on the New Yoto Player and new content/accessories for 2023. The Yoto Mini was not mentioned so whilst Yoto may release a 2nd generation Yoto Mini in future, they have confirmed that this is not imminent and there are no current plans in place.
I’ve only just bought the Yoto 2nd generation – will it still be supported?
If you’ve only just bought the Yoto Player, you may be a bit gutted to learn that there is a new one coming out. Please don’t be disheartened – the original Yoto Player is a fantastic product and you won’t be disappointed. I see this a little bit like the Apple upgrades – constantly evolving and moving with the times. Just because you don’t have the latest model, you will still have a great Yoto experience, and the software and app are still being supported even thought the 2nd wont be sold on the Yoto site.
Yoto have confirmed that they’ll continuing your 2nd generation Yoto with new OS updates for the foreseeable future.
I have the original Yoto Player – is it worth upgrading?
The decision to upgrade to the Yoto 3rd generation has to be personal choice and based on how much you use the Yoto. For us, we use the Yoto every single day and have amassed quite a significant Yoto card library. I would have considered upgrading for the additional storage and battery life alone, with the thermometer and wireless headphone use as an extra bonus. That said, if your Yoto is fairly new and you are fairly early on in your Yoto journey, you wont need to upgrade straight away unless you particularly want the extra features.
Is the Yoto 3rd generation player worth the money?
At just £10 more than the original, I think the Yoto 3rd generation offers excellent value for money. You’re getting double the storage, triple the battery life (up to 600 hours of content) and it can now be enjoyed with wireless headphones. It stays true to the original ethos of the Yoto player – a child friendly audio device with no ads, no microphone and no camera, that allows children the freedom to explore as they learn, play, relax, sleep and explore a wide range of audio content.
Just like the original player, the 3rd generation player has access to tons of free content too including podcasts, sleep sounds, radio and more. With loads more exciting Yoto cards and content expected in 2023, I am excited for this next phase in our Yoto journey!
Having just launched, there are no active discounts on the 3rd generation player, however, if you sign up to the Yoto Club PRIOR to ordering your player, you get 10% off everything in the Yoto store, including the player and cards. If you’re planning on buying a few cards with the player, I would recommend signing up to the Yoto Club (£9.99 but gets you two credits for cards), checking out and then logging back in once you’re a club member to buy your player. The Yoto Club costs £9.99 a month but you can cancel at any time, so even signing up for one month will save you £10 off the player and get you two cards effectively *free*. You can learn more about Yoto Club here.
One of the things we love the most about Yoto, along with the extensive range of screen-free entertainment, is the fact that they continuously listen to their community. Yoto put its customers at the forefront of everything it does, taking user’s ideas on board, listening to feedback and aiming to continuously improve and develop what is already an amazing product.
One of the biggest requests from Yoto fans was that they wanted a place to share ideas, tips, tricks and content feedback – and as usual, Yoto listened! Yoto Space was launched last month – an online community space to help Yoto users get the most out of their experience. If you haven’t already checked out Yoto Space, here’s everything that you need to know!
What is Yoto Space?
Yoto space is an online community built for Yoto users and everyone is welcome – whether you are brand new to Yoto, an experienced Yoto family or even considering purchasing a Yoto player for your children.
Yoto Space is a free website celebrating all things Yoto – a great place to learn from others in the community, ask questions to other Yoto player owners and learn new tips and tricks for getting the most out of your Yoto.
Even better, at Yoto Space you’ll also find LOADS of extra audio content to add to your child’s Yoto library completely free of charge. From exclusive audio from the team at Yoto Studio, to podcasts and radio stations suggested by the Yoto Space community. There is even a Made By You section, where Yoto fans share content they have created themselves.
All this content can be then played and enjoyed via the Yoto app, or added to a Make Your Own cards to enhance your child’s experience.
What’s on Yoto Space?
We’ve taken a deep dive into the cosmic content world of Yoto Space and had a thorough explore, to learn more about how this new community can benefit Yoto parents.
Here’s what you can find at Yoto Space:
Audio Collections
We love the wide range of Yoto Cards available at the Yoto Store, from stories to music and meditations, but there is loads more FREE content available at Yoto Space.
Yoto Studio – In the Yoto Studio you can learn more about what Yoto are up to behind the scenes, including gaining insights into the new tracks and cards that are being created. There are also lots of fun soundscapes (background music for creative play with fun, real life sound effects), handy timers (such as the Leave the House Timer to speed up your mornings) and Jake’s Birthday Shoutouts. By popular request, Yoto have even created a card packed full of hilarious Fart Sounds! If you like what you hear, you can scan the QR code on screen to add straight to your Yoto library in an instant.
Made by You – In this section, you will find user generated content. Yoto recently held an Audio Maker Competition – and over 180 entries were received – from original stories and music to interactive games, recipes, travel guides and even daily affirmations. The fantastic entries are available to download straight to your Yoto Library and have now been whittled down to 30 finalists, with the winner being declared on the 1st June. We’ve checked out the shortlist and the quality is amazing, so definitely worth a download. We particularly love Painting Dreamy Landscapes (a step by step painting card with relaxing audio) and the Cat-tastrophe – a ‘choose your own adventure’ style book with interactive decisions on each track.
Pubic Domain – Some classic or older stories are available to download online for free and they will be shared in this section. It’s worth remembering that some ‘classic’ tales were written a long time ago and as such, word meanings or some terminology may have changed compared to modern times.
Podcasts – Are your children keen to explore more podcasts? In this section, you can discover loads more podcasts that you may have missed, as well as get feedback from other listeners.
Radio – as above, parents can discover alternative child friendly radio stations and add them straight to their Yoto app.
Helpul tutorials
We’re fairly confident with our Yoto players now, but there is always more to learn to make the most of your Yoto, even if you’ve owned it for a while. Yoto Space is packed full of helpful tutorials and allows the community to share their experiences, to share genuine, tried and tested feedback from other parents. This section of Yoto Space includes:
Make your own cards – step by step instructions on how to make your own Yoto Cards
Pixel art – a tutorial on how to add Yoto Pixel Icons to each track on make your own content
Interactive stories – Hints and tips on how to create your own interactive story or game
Community Chat
By far our favourite part of Yoto Space however is the Community Chat section, where you can really tap into the hive mind of Yoto users. how do other fans rate the cards? Will the content be too scary? What are the Yoto icons for the chapter? Which Yoto card is most appropriate for my dinosaur-obsessed child? Asking other Yoto users is a great place to start.
From the Questions board to the Tips and Tricks tab, you can even add your own ideas and content suggestions to the Ideas Wall – this could be anything from a new feature to a whole new product!
Where can I find Yoto Space?
To join the Yoto Space community, set up a free login at Yoto Space
Overall Thoughts
We’re really impressed with this new addition to the Yoto world. It’s only been live a short time, but already I can see that this could become a really valuable resource for parents to support each other and find new, fun ways to entertain our children. If you;’re not already registered and own a Yoto, head on down and join in the chat!
AD/Yoto player previously gifted for review. This Yoto Hints and Tips post contains affiliate links
It’s no secret that we are MASSIVE fans of Yoto in this house. Having first been introduced to this screen free audio player for kids around 12 months ago, it’s fair to say it’s totally overhauled our morning and bedtime routines, allowing my children to switch off and relax before bed, focus on their homework or simply be less distracted when getting ready for school.
If you’re new to the world of Yoto, you may be wondering if you are using the Yoto player to its full potential. Fear not, having amassed a large collection of Yoto cards and really putting the player through its paces, here are our tried and tested Yoto hints and tips to get you started.
The Best Yoto Hints and Tips
1. Set up the Nightlight and Ok to wake clock
One of our favourite features of the full-sized Yoto player is the Nightlight and Ok to wake clock – something which sets it apart from the Tonies Toniebox. If you’re still deciding between Yoto vs Tonie, the nightlight is definitely something to bear in mind.
Setting up the nightlight is really straightforward using the Yoto app. In the settings, you can select from a choice of seven different colours (including white), as well as specify a different colour for morning and night. By specifying what time ‘day mode’ starts, you can effectively set up an ‘ok to wake clock’ where your child can visually see from the colour of their night light whether it’s ok to wake up. Alternatively, if they have the Yoto turned on to the side with the pixel clock visible, a sun or a moon will appear next to the time.
The brightness of the screen and the nightlight can also be adjusted in the Yoto app.
2. Use soundscapes for creative play with younger children
If your children love creative play, playing with their doll’s house or even creating dens and using their imagination, they will love the Soundscapes in the Yoto app. These are effectively themed background music tracks with sound effects that can really help bring their play to life and whisk them off to a new make believe world. You can find Soundscapes including Pirate World. Construction Site and Enchanted Forest in the ‘Discover’ section of the Yoto app (Click on My Library, Drop down ‘More’ arrow in top right corner, and then Discover)
3. Embrace the power of Yoto Make your Own cards
The Yoto cards library is very extensive, with new Yoto Cards being added all the time, however, do not underestimate the power of the Yoto Make Your Own Cards. Whether it’s audio from your local library via BorrowBox, mp3 audio from Amazon or even grandparents recording a goodnight story or reading your child’s favourite book out loud. Make Your Own Cards have no limits and can be recorded over and updated in the Yoto app in minutes. Our post below is full of Yoto Hints and Tips for MYO Cards including step by step instructions.
Whilst the Yoto Player is great for allowing your child to create their own entertainment, the ability to control via the Yoto App on your phone is also a great advantage. From turning on a mindfulness meditation or switching on some calming background music or Yoto cards to help your child sleep, can all be done from your own bedroom without disturbing them, including turning on, swapping tracks or pausing the audio as required.
5. Listen to the Free Yoto Daily
My girls absolutely LOVE the Yoto Daily podcast and Jake makes a regular appearance as part of our morning routine. These child friendly podcasts are great to listen to whilst your child has their breakfast, with different themes each day including fun games, facts and even ‘draw alongs’ which my two absolutely love. These are completely free to access (just need a wifi connection) via the podcasts section on the Yoto app.
6. Use your Yoto Player as a Bluetooth speaker
Did you know you can also use your Yoto player as a Bluetooth speaker? To do this you must first turn on Bluetooth pairing in the settings section of your player on the Yoto app. Once enabled, press the left hand button on your Yoto Player and hold down for three seconds – a grey Bluetooth symbol will appear.
You can then pair your phone or other device with your Yoto in the device settings, at which point the following will appear on your Yoto. Please note, the tracks will be controlled via your phone in paired mode and not using the Yoto buttons.
7. Get a good nights sleep with Yoto Sleep Radio
Did you know Yoto also has a FREE Sleep radio, along with loads of other child-friendly radio stations that can be accessed either via your app or on your Yoto players? The Yoto Sleep radio is our favourite – ideal as part of a calm bedtime routine. The songs are mostly classical music, lullabies and sleep sounds, but they’re also nice for adults to listen to too!
8. Download cards before travel to work without WiFi
One of the biggest pros when comparing the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini is the portability. The Yoto Mini is a smaller version of the original, making a lightweight carry along version ideal for travel. If you’re taking your Yoto Mini on a long car journey or flight, it’s important to ensure the content is fully downloaded to your device before you go, otherwise they won’t work when disconnected from Wifi. To do this, when you have a new card, leave it in the player for a little while (you’ll notice the download cloud appear when you first insert it). You dont have to play the whole thing, just give it time to download the content. You can check how many of the cards in your library are downloaded on the Yoto app.
9. Buy child friendly Yoto Card Storage
Yoto cards are fairly small and lightweight, which is great for portability, but does mean they can be lost or misplaced quite easily. There are lots of useful Yoto card storage options to choose from including the Yoto card case or Yoto Mini Travel Case – the latter of which has plenty of space for storing your Yoto headphones too. We love our original Yoto card cases, which unlike some of the cheaper alternatives, have easily accessible slots with diagonal slats, which makes adding and removing them quick and easy, even for young children.
10. Let your child choose the cards
Give your child full flexibility over the content they listen to. Being able to flick through the ring binder of the Yoto Card Case is a great way for them to visually pick out the card they want to listen to and slot it into the player themselves. You may fid that they initially reach for the same cards a lot and that’s ok!
11. Use the Card Store Snippets section to listen to previews
If you’re looking to expand your Yoto card library but don’t know where to start, the Discover section of the app has a Card Store Snippets section, allowing you to preview a full track of the card before committing to purchasing. This is a great way to ‘try before you buy’.
12. Check the duration of cards to ensure value for money
Not all Yoto cards are created equal when it comes to value for money, so keep a close eye on the card duration in the specifications section of the card on the Yoto store. Some cards such as the Disney Junior Novels are HOURS long, working out excellent value for money when. you consider your child may listen to a chapter or two each evening. Other cards last less than half an hour, which whilst great for young children with shorter attention spans, means they will become familiar with the contents far more quickly.
13. Keep an eye on the Discovery section
The Discovery section of the Yoto app is updated regularly – so don’t forget to check back, It also contains some other useful features such as the Tooth brush timer and tidy up timers, counting down to encourage motivation or continued behaviours for a specified amount of time.
14. Join Yoto Club
The Yoto Club is an affordable and convenient subscription service that allows you to expand your Yoto collection quickly. Costing £9.99 per month (with annual purchases also available) you get two credits a month to spend on specific Yoto Club cards in the Yoto store, as well as getting 10% off all other purchases (including players and accessories). Is Yoto club worth it? Click on our link below to learn more.
15. Join our Facebook Group for more Yoto Hints and Tips
Last but not least, join our Facebook Group if you’re in the UK. The Yoto Fans UK group is full of Yoto hints and tips to make the most of your player, as well as being a helpful community to buy and sell unwanted Yoto cards and accessories.
16. Even MORE Yoto Hints and Tips
For more Yoto Hints and Tips, check out our related posts below or search Yoto in the search bar. If you have any questions about Yoto, or any other Yoto hints and tips you want to share, please share in the comments below or drop me a message! x
Tonies nightlight purchased by myself in April 2023
Tonies fans! We have big news! The Tonies Nightlight has landed! This cute and comforting oversized Creative Tonie, part of the Tonies Sleepy Friends range, has a built-in nightlight and as well as being absolutely adorable, makes the perfect addition to your child’s bedtime routine. Here’s everything you need to know.
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of the audio screen-free fun offered by both Tonies and Yoto, in particular when it comes to helping children get calm and relaxed before bed. Until now, the nightlight was one of the main features missing from the Toniebox when compared to the Yoto Player, so this new release certainly takes some steps to overcome this. This May, there is a brand new addition coming to the super cute Tonies Sleepy Friends range – the Tonies Sleepy Sheep Nightlight. Officially launched on the 20th May 2023, we’ve got our hands on the Tonies Nightlight during the exclusive period at Natural Baby Shower so we can put it through its paces before it goes on general release.
If you’re tempted by the Tonies Nightlight, here’s our full verdict, as tested with my six-year-old daughter Neve.
The Tonies Sleepy Sheep Tonies Nightlight is a 2-in-1 product. When placed on top of the Toniebox (sold separately), this super cute silicone sheep emits a warm glow (with a choice of brightness settings). It also plays 90 minutes of relaxing melodies such as water and nature sounds that have been preloaded to help your little one drift off to sleep.
As a Creative Tonie, it also allows you to record your own personalised sleep messages, bedtime stories or music, such as grandparents reading aloud your child’s favourite book and sync with the nightlight using the Tonies app.
The Tonies Night Light can also be used as a stand alone nightlight. With up to 100 hours of battery life from one USB charge (up to 240 hours on the lowest brightness setting), this portable nightlight makes a reassuring friend if your child wakes during the night and can be carried along during overnight toilet trips.
What’s in the box
The Tonies Night Light Tonie comes in a large box as shown below.
Inside you’ll find:
Tonies Sleepy Sheep Nightlight
USB charger cable (no plug)
Please note, due to the packaging, the USB charger cable is quite tucked away and potentially easy to miss. Before throwing the box in the recycling, be sure to pop open the lid above the nightlight to release the cable from the cardboard.
If for any reason you haven’t spotted it, don’t worry. The Tonies nightlight is compatible with standard USB DC 5V chargers)
Does the Tonies Nightlight require any set up?
Tonies recommend that the Tonie nightlight is charged fully before the first use, so for that reason, you may want to unpack it and charge it before gifting it to your child (as if they’re anything like Neve they’re going to want it on straight away!)
Whilst it does work straight out of the box, we decided to be sensible (never one to be a rule breaker!) and follow the instructionsl When you plug it into a USB plug to charge, a small light on the bottom of the nightlight flashes green. Once this turns to a solid green glow, the nightlight is ready to use. Ours took a good few hours for the initial charge.
How big is the Tonies Nightlight?
The Nightlight Tonie is much bigger to the other Tonies characters you may be used to – quite considerably so. This is to maximise the impact of the nightlight element, creating a warm glow in your child’s bedroom or nursery. The Tonies Sleepy Sheep Nightlight measures approx 6.5 inches / 16.5cm tall.
What is the Nightlight Tonie made from?
The Tonies Sleepy Sheep Nightlight is made from super soft silicone which is almost squishy. It’s lightweight and tactile to hold, with a slightly heavier bottom and an almost airy feel at the top.
What content is on the Nightlight Tonie?
Neve loves the Sleepy Sheep Nightlight as a stand-alone nightlight, but the true value in this Tonie character is when it’s placed on top of the Toniebox. The preloaded content has been made specifically for sleep, with water and nature sounds that offer a slow rhythmic ‘white noise’ melody without any lyrics or fast beats. We found the music to be very calming, with Neve also enjoying playing it in the background while reading her book.
We haven’t added any of our own content as of yet, but this is very straightforward to do using the Tonies app, in the same way you would using any other Creative Tonie.
Is the brightness adjustable?
Yes! The brightness level can be varied to one of four dimmable brightness levels and used on or off your Toniebox. The brightness is controlled using the button on the bottom of the sheep, pressing once to turn it on and then pressing again to click through the levels of brightness until you find your preference. The brightest setting is very bright (ideal for reading) whereas the others create more of a subtle, comforting glow.
The image below shows the levels from off (far left) to the brightest setting (far right).
Does it have a timer?
Yes. The Nightlight Tonie Sleepy Sheep has an optional sleep-timer of 30 minutes for the Night Light. This is triggered using the button on the right and turns off automatically once the 30 minutes has passed.
How does the Nightlight Tonie work?
Turn the Tonies Nightlight on and off using the on button on the left hand side at the base of the sheep. To change between the brightness settings, simply keep pressing the on button and it will increase in brightness before turning off again.
How do you charge the Tonies Nightlight?
The Tonies nighlight offers an impressive 100 hours of battery life from full charge. When the battery is running low, or if the light stops working, plug the USB cable in to the slot on the back of the nightlight (a USB charger is included). The green light on the base will flash when the nightlight is charging, and turn solid green when the battery is fully charged and ready to use.
What we love about the Tonies Nightlight
Cute – With his oversized body and sleepy smile, the Tonies Sleepy Sheep is pretty adorable and instantly engaging for your child.
Portable – unlike some nightlights that plug into the mains, the Tonies Nightlight is fully portable, meaning your child can pick it up and take it with them if they need to leave their room during the night.
Range of brightness levels – Some nightlights can be too bright and keep your children awake – we love the range of settings so you can find the right brightness level for the mood or time of day.
Calming melodies – The preloaded music is calm and relaxing, being conducive to sleep and ideal as part of a bedtime routine.
Ability to record your own – We love that the Sleepy Sheep can be completely personalised by adding your own bedtime stories or music.
Great battery life – The battery life is impressive, without the need to stock up on AAAs or be restricted by the location of your nearest plug socket. The USB charger is quick and simple to use.
What we would change about the Tonies Nightlight
It’s quite big, which is great from a stand-alone nightlight point of view, but could be a bit restrictive when using it as a Creative Tonie on top of your player, particularly if you usually store your Toniebox on a shelf with limited height above.
Being white in colour, there is a slight risk that the Tonies Nighlight could get a bit grubby. Whilst you can’t immerse the whole sheep in water due to the battery, you can wipe down the silicone with a damp cloth.
Neve would have loved to have seen the Sleepy Bear and Sleepy Rabbit as nightlights too, but rumour has it they’re coming soon!
Where can I buy the Tonies nightlight?
At the time of writing, the Tonies Nightlight is available exclusively at Natural Baby Shower with an RRP of £34.99.
Whilst we’re a fairly tech friendly family in this house, we’re also huge advocates for screen-free fun, particularly when it come’s to relaxing and unwinding before bed. Having also experienced more than our fair share of sleep challenges in this household, I’m a big fan of anything that helps us all get a better night’s sleep – something which often feels easier said than done.
Tonies – the largest interactive audio platform for kids in the world – have recently announced the brand new launch of their first ever own range of licensed Tonies characters called Sleepy Friends. These super cute hand-painted audio characters are designed to become a supportive part of your child’s bedtime routine – whatever form that may take. The collection includes three adorable characters who are blissfully asleep in their super cute slumber – Sleepy Bear, Sleepy Sheep and Sleepy Rabbit (coming 20th May) and they retail at £14.99 each.
Toniebox Sleepy Friends Collection
Recent research by Tonies found that an impressive 87% of tonies customers found the Toniebox made their bedtime routines easier, with Toniebox being used most often by families as a way to instil a quiet, calm and peaceful environment for their children before bed. These three new Tonies Sleepy Friends characters want to take that ability one step further, introducing a choice of three holistic and comforting characters to enhance and improve the bedtime routine. Here’s what you need to know.
Tonies Sleepy Friends – Sleepy Bear
Sleepy Bear is ideal for relaxation, with a ‘feel- good’ story about bedtime routines narrated with a gentle, warm tone to help children feel sleepy.
Balanced beautifully with calming music and songs, Sleepy Bear provides the perfect foundation for children to use their imagination and drift off to a night filled with sweet dreams.
Last but by no means least is Sleepy Rabbit (expected to join the Tonies Sleepy Friends range from 20th May). This adorable floppy eared bunny will play warm, classical music; proven to calm both children and parents. With soothing harps, pianos and violins, the 90 minute Tonie includes 14-tracks with classics from composers, including Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin.
COMING SOON! 🙂
Our Verdict of the Tonies Sleepy Friends Range
We road tested the Tonies Sleepy Friends range with my two daughters who are aged 9 and 6. Whilst I would say they are possibly slightly older than the target age group, we were still really impressed with the calming, sleep-inducing sounds and music included in these adorable characters.
First up, there’s no doubt that these hand painted Sleepy Friends characters are some of the cutest tonies we have seen. The girls loved the figures even before they realised they were tonies – loving their relaxed ‘floppy’ body stance and the fact that they were clearly content and fast asleep.
Neve (6) loved Sleepy Bear, mostly due to the story time element that was combined with some sleepy songs and compositions – she usually asks me each night ‘ what shall I dream about’ but when Sleepy Bear is playing, we have found that she naturally drifts off to the story, even if she’s heard it multiple times. There is something about the music that is incredibly hypnotic, which I can only assume clears her mind and stops her overactive mind from whirring when its time to go to sleep.
Erin is older and at 9, the Sleepy Sheep was her favourite, with some really subtle ‘white noise’ style nature sounds that made a discreet but calming backdrop to her bedtime routine. She found them to not only be relaxing to listen to at bedtime, but whilst she was colouring in or making friendship bracelets in her bedroom during the hour before bed too. As a parent, I often worry about the impact of blue screen and try and limit tv and tablet use before bed, so listening to her tonie Sleepy Sheep instead was a great alternative.
Overall, we love the Tonie Sleepy Friends range and are excited to see the Bunny join the collection later in the year.
Hi, I’m Lucy, a thirty something mum of two from Birmingham. A memory maker, tradition keeper, stationery addict and Mr Men fanatic. HR Advisor by day and sleep deprived Mama by night!
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