The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?ExtrasIndyBestKids9 best kids’ audio players to reduce screen time and spark imaginationLittle ones can learn, play and get lost in storytelling, music and moreSwap screen time for one of these audio players (Abby Driver/The Independent)Our Top Picks12345Yoto mini player (2024 edition)Read review£60Buy now6Baby Clementoni Disney storytime projectorRead review£25Buy now7Fisher-Price classics music box record playerRead review£28Buy now8Learning Resources 'Numberblocks' sing and record music playerRead review£27Buy now9Amazon echo dot kids (5th generation)Read review£65Buy nowWith two-thirds of UK parents now in favour of capping their children's screen time, the best audio players are stepping into the spotlight. Of course, self-directed play, getting outside, playing with friends and reading are all incredibly important but, every now and then, we all need a bit of downtime. Nifty audio players enable your child to listen to their favourite books, as well as music, podcasts and child-friendly radio stations, without having to engage with a screen at all. While nothing will ever beat a bedtime story with parents, an audio player can supplement your child’s reading and broaden their literary horizons. Whether you’re after a model that comes complete with all manner of bells and whistles or you’re looking for a stripped back, wifi-free option, I’ve got you covered. With help from my six- and three-year-old co-testers, I’ve put a range of the latest kids’ audio players through their paces. Keep scrolling to find out which ones impressed me the most. Read more: Best kids’ headphones, testedI looked for devices that suit kids of different ages (Abby Driver/The Independent)Best overall – Yoto player: £89.99, Yotoplay.comBest budget buy – Voxblock audio player: £59.99, Amazon.co.ukBest for a wide age range – Toniebox 2: £109.99, Amazon.co.ukBest for battery life – StoryPhones: £79.99, Currys.co.ukBest for travel – Yoto mini player: £59.99, Yotoplay.comRead more: Best gifts for six-year-olds, reviewed1Yoto player (3rd generation)Best kids' audio player overallWhy we love it Huge libraryLoads of useful featuresSimple to useTake note Adventure jacket costs extraShow moreShow lessIt's easy to see why this remains such a popular audio player among children and parents. It's simple and easy to use, yet packed to the rafters with genuinely useful features. Despite being a self-declared luddite, I had this audio player set up in less than five minutes. You do need to download an app and connect to wifi, but it’s incredibly straightforward. From there, simply pop your story card of choice into the slot and it will start playing immediately. The credit-card-sized story cards are super convenient to store, too. That’s good news, as Yoto's audio library is huge, with more than 1,100 titles available. Plus, they're always releasing new options, and you can even make your own card if they don't have exactly what you want. The expansive library means this audio player can grow with your child's interests. My six-year-old loved the Magic Faraway Tree trilogy pack, and the Mermaids and Fairy Dust Meditation card is perfect for winding down before bed. Meanwhile, my three-year-old loved singing along to the Frozen II soundtrack while doing her best Elsa impersonation.This kids’ audio player is super easy to set up (Abby Driver/The Independent)The Yoto is also a great option if you’re looking to reduce nightstand clutter. In my youngest’s room, we’ve currently got a white-noise machine and a Groclock (£24.99, Johnlewis.com) but their capabilities are effectively covered by the Yoto.During testing, both of my children loved the retro-style pixel icon art that conveys whatever is happening in each chapter. When not in use, it displays the weather and time. If you don't want that distraction, simply tip the display forward and the back panel transforms into a warm nightlight. There's built-in free access to Yoto Daily (a child-friendly podcast) and Yoto Radio (child-friendly music), while the app enables you to see the room temperature, which I found to be a handy feature during summer heatwaves I’d recommend investing in the adventure jacket, too, as the audio player’s hard plastic shell could break if dropped on hard flooring. It's also a bit bulky to take with you for travelling. If that’s a deal-breaker for you, check out the Yoto mini player, which is also included in this roundup.Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: Portable Battery life: Up to 16 hours Age range: 3-12+ yearsRead our full Yoto player reviewBack to top2Voxblock audio playerBest budget kids' audio playerWhy we love it Easy setupNo wifi or BluetoothStraightforward to useTake note Bulky book blocksShow moreShow lessI fell big time for the Voxblock audio player. It’s a reasonably priced, straightforward audio player that does exactly what it says on the tin. There’s no fiddly setup, no app requirement, no wifi or Bluetooth connection – just plug it in to charge with the USB-C cable, then slot your audio book of choice in place and you’re away. Even better, if you remove the audio book and then put it back in again, it will pick up where you left off. There’s an excellent selection of titles available, including those by Roald Dahl, Terry Pratchett and Julia Donaldson, with new titles added often. You get the sense this audio player has been designed by book-lovers (Abby Driver/The Independent)The buttons are big, tactile and intuitive to use and your children can either listen out loud or use the wired headphones. We listened to The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton, narrated by Kate Winslet, and it was beautifully told and a real pleasure to listen to. All of the essentials have been covered by this audio player, without the addition of anything distracting. There’s a handy battery light indicator at the bottom, so you can see when it’s nearing time for a charge. You can also put it into bedtime mode by pressing the two furthest buttons until the light turns orange, which gives you 20 minutes of listening before turning off. You can also put a travel lock on it by pressing the volume buttons until the light turns pink (same again to unlock). You'll need to find a place to store the book blocks, though – they'll take up more room compared with the debit-card sized Yoto cards. Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: PortableBattery life: Up to 14 hoursAge range: 3 years to teensBack to top3Toniebox 2Best kids' audio player for a wide age rangeWhy we love it Super durableGreat longevityHuge range of stories to choose fromTake note Games requires extra purchasesVery short cableShow moreShow lessIf you're looking for an audio player that will grow with your child, the Toniebox 2 is certified for kids aged 12 months and up. The latest device has kept the same hyper-kid-friendly padded design and ergonomic ear controls, and the audio is still played via the character figurines that snap satisfyingly into place on top of the player. There are more than 250 to choose from, including classic favourites such as Paddington and Peter Rabbit. This audio player is made to last (Abby Driver/The Independent)Conveniently, this model also comes with a sunrise alarm, and the option to use wireless headphones. There is also the rather exciting addition of audio gaming, featuring everything from Disney quizzes to rescue missions with the Paw Patrol, though this does require extra purchases. There is plenty here to keep your child entertained for years. The slight drawback is that in order to get it certified for 12-month-olds, the cable is a teeny 10cm, which is a bit impractical. If you’ve got older kids, you may want to buy a longer replacement cable. Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: Portable Battery life: Up to 9 hours Age range: 12 months to 9 years Read our full Toniebox reviewBack to top4StoryPhonesBest kids' audio player for battery lifeWhy we love it Ultra-portableExceptional battery lifeComfortable to wearTake note Limited library compared with some other audio playersShow moreShow lessThe biggest pain point of traditional audio players is bulk. However, the StoryPhones player is built directly into a pair of super comfortable, volume-limited headphones, offering a screen-free entertainment experience that doesn't take up precious bag space. With no need for a separate audio player, you simply click the magnetic StoryShield discs into place directly in the headphones, then the story begins to play. The really cool thing is, once the StoryShield has downloaded, it's available offline, making it perfect for long car rides. It boasts exceptionally good battery life, too, with up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge. My mini tested described the padded headphones as being comfortably to wear (Abby Driver/The Independent)There's also built-in hearing protection, and my eldest said that the padded headphones were comfortable to wear. The library is smaller than many competitors, but there’s plenty of official Disney content to choose from. We listened to Monsters Inc, Toy Story and Frozen, with each being about half an hour in length. Just make sure you find a secure way to store the discs, as they are prime candidates for getting lost under plane or car seats. Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: PortableBattery life: Up to 20 hoursAge range: 3-8 yearsBack to top5Yoto mini player (2024 edition)Best kids' audio player for travelWhy we love it Weighs less than 200gPerfect for travellingUses the same Yoto cards as the larger Yoto PlayerTake note Less impressive sound qualityShow moreShow lessWeighing less than 200g, the Yoto mini is a palm-sized audio player that’s perfect for taking with you on the go. There's no ambient nightlight or room thermometer here but, if you're not fussed about losing some of the features found in the main Yoto player (reviewed above), this mini version works fantastically as a basic audio player. This audio player features dinky dimensions (Abby Driver/The Independent)The drawbacks are that some small toddlers might find the volume dials a little tricky, and if you're fussy about sound quality, the built-in mono speaker doesn't boast the same smooth stereo sound as the third-generation Yoto player. Plus, like its larger peer, you'll want to plump for the adventure jacket to protect the plastic casing. However, if you're looking for a relatively budget-friendly audio player that works brilliantly when travelling, look no further.Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: Portable Battery life: Up to 14 hoursAge range: 3-12+ yearsBack to top6Baby Clementoni Disney storytime projectorBest kids' audio player with imagesWhy we love it Combines simple visual storytelling with audioInstant setupTake note No option to add more storiesAn adult will need to set the manual focusShow moreShow lessIf you're looking for an audio story device suitable for younger children who love Disney, this fun Baby Clementoni Disney storytime projector is aimed at those aged 12+ months. It comes with preinstalled batteries, and there's no need to connect to wifi or download any apps, so it's easy to use straight away. Simply pop in whichever story you want to play, then watch the full-colour projector images and listen to the story.This casts video as well as audio (Abby Driver/The Independent)You'll need a spot of plain wall on which to project, then you can use the focus dial to get a clear image. Each set comes with eight cards – seven Disney classics (including 101 Dalmatians, Alice in Wonderland and The Lion King) and a lullaby card. That is your lot, though. There's no option to buy extra cards. Each story is also quite short, condensed down to eight slides. While it's designed for ages 12 months and older, a parent will probably need to set the manual focus – my three-year-old kept knocking it out of alignment in excitement.Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: x3 AA batteries, includedBattery life: N/AAge range: 1-6 yearsBack to top7Fisher-Price classics music box record playerBest nostalgic kids' audio playerWhy we love it Beautifully designedSuper simple setupEasy to use for younger kidsTake note Limited contentEasily outgrownShow moreShow lessLonging for the good old days? Indulge in this Fisher-Price music box record player and go back in time while your little ones drop the needle and play retro versions of nursery rhymes such as ‘London Bridge’, ‘Ants Go Marching’ and ‘The Wheels on the Bus’.Suitable for those aged 18 months and up, it's a fun audio-based toy suitable for young toddlers. It would be a great way to get a young one interested in basic cause-and-effect learning, encouraging some independent play and having a good old-fashioned singalong with a backing track. I loved the retro design of this player (Abby Driver/The Independent)It's a re-release of the iconic 1971 ‘change-a-record’ player, and it does feel like a special piece. Plus with no wifi, Bluetooth or app to download, it feels like a proper offline, 100 per cent screen-free bit of kit. With the wind-up knob, it's also really simple for little hands to grasp, plus there is a handy hidden storage compartment at the back for the ‘records’ to be kept safe when not in use.Of course, it's not a true music box and relies on internal batteries and digital chips behind the scenes. There's also a fixed library, and the audio quality isn't phenomenal. There's also no headphone jack, so you will be listening to ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ on repeat along with your little one.Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: Portable (x3 AA batteries, not included)Battery life: N/AAge range: 18 months to 4 yearsBack to top8Learning Resources 'Numberblocks' sing and record music playerBest kids' audio player for recording and listeningWhy we love it Can record as well as play audioComes with a headphone jackTake note Limited contentEasily outgrownShow moreShow lessIf you are looking for an audio toy to keep your toddler or preschooler occupied, check out this Numberblocks option. Inspired by the hit CBeebies TV series, this toy helps young children explore maths through 15 sounds and songs. But the bit that proved a hit with our preschooler was the attached microphone, which enables you to record yourself for up to 90 seconds and then play back the recording. This is certain to keeps little ones entertained (Abby Driver/The Independent)You might be pleased to learn there is a headphone jack, though do note headphones are not included. It also comes with batteries, which are still going strong after a week of intermittent use.While this is a great option for toddlers and young preschoolers, it doesn't have the same longevity as some other models included in this roundup. But as a fun Christmas or birthday present that will enable children to capture their own performances, it hits all the right notes.Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: Portable (x2 AA batteries included)Battery life: N/AAge range: 3-6 yearsBack to top9Amazon echo dot kids (5th generation)Best multi-functional kids' audio playerWhy we love it Good valueHuge range of audio activitiesTake note Need to pay for a subscription after the first yearMains powered onlyShow moreShow lessAmazon’s echo dot kids (5th generation) offers exceptionally good value for money for the first year, considering it comes with the content already baked in. However, it's worth noting that, after your first year is up, you’ll need to pay for a monthly or annual subscription to continue using Amazon Kids+. The echo dot kids has a handy built-in temperature sensor, and I like the bright child-friendly designs – we tested the purple fire-breathing dragon version. The physical buttons on the top of the device are easy enough to use, too. If you have multiple echos devices, you can also broadcast to your children's one, to tell them it's time for dinner, for example.The echo dot kids comes with one years’ worth of content (Abby Driver/The Independent)The downside is that it’s mains powered only, so you can't move it around or take it with you in the car. Plus, there's no headphone jack, so whatever your kids are listening to will become the soundtrack to your day, too. I also found the setup to be a bit of a palaver – it took by far the longest of all the products tested. However, if you already have echo dots in your house and the accounts and apps already installed, it may be significantly quicker. While this is marketed as being suitable for children aged three years and above, I don't know many three-year-olds with clear enough diction to actually use the voice-command setup. The ultimate drawback for me, though, is having an always-listening, cloud-connected microphone around children. There is the option to mute it, but the nature of the device means that whenever you want to use it, it has to be on.Key specificationsPortable or plug-in: Plug in Battery life: N/AAge range: 3-12 yearsBack to topWhat is the best kids’ audio player?The Yoto player is a solid, all-round offering thanks it huge library and range of extra features like a nightlight and weather display. Just make sure you buy the adventure jacket, if it’s going to be handled by younger children. If you've looking for something budget friendly and no-nonsense, you're not going to beat the Voxblock audio player. If you're on the road a lot, consider the StoryPhones for their all-in-one build and exceptional battery life. Buying for a young toddler and want something that will grow with them? It's got to be the Toniebox 2. How I tested kids’ audio playersTo test accurately and fairly throughout the testing process, I assessed each kids’ audio player against the following criteria. Ease of use: First of all, with the help of my two children, I looked at how easy the device was to use without my help. From inserting a Yoto card, securing a Tonie figurine in place or sliding in a Voxblock book, I paid attention to how easy it was for children to use each device. Durability: I wanted to see how kid-proof the designs were. I was after something that could hold up to the odd bit of inevitable wear and tear. Setup and parental controls: When it comes to technology, I am the first to admit it frequently overwhelms me, so there is no better person to test how easy and intuitive the setup process was. I looked at the level of friction incurred with each product, which ranged from seamless to frustrating. Once in, I considered how the parental controls measured up, too.Value for money: Does it offer ongoing value and can it grow with the child, rather than cater to a specific age range? Battery life: Where relevant, I also considered how the battery life fared. Is there anything more bedtime derailing than a story cutting out halfway through? Why you can trust IndyBest reviewsIndyBest is The Independent’s expert-driven shopping section. We extensively test every product we feature to bring you unbiased reviews based on real-world testing, and we only recommend products that pass our rigorous tests.Abby Driver has tested and reviewed a wide range of products for IndyBest, including everything from the best dog leads to top-rated walking poles. A mother of two, Abby tested these audio players with the help of her children, so she can vouch for how well each product went down at bedtime, while out and about, and at home during the day.Want more ideas for entertaining the kids? Read our guide to the best gifts for five-year-olds