_edited.png)
If you’ve been searching for a way to make storytelling, music, and learning come alive for your kids without relying on screens, let me introduce you to the Yoto Player. It’s been a game-changer in our home, and I’m so excited to share why we love it and how you can make it even more personal with DIY Make Your Own (MYO) cards. In this post, I'll share a bit about why we love it and a step-by-step for how I create our MYO cards!
Why We Love Yoto
Yoto has quickly become a cherished part of our daily rhythm. It’s a screen-free audio player designed for kids, and its simplicity is genius. Our kids love being able to pick their favorite cards, pop them in, and listen independently. It’s perfect for everything from bedtime stories to upbeat music during playtime.
Here's why we're hooked:
Screen-Free Fun: Yoto offers entertainment without the endless distractions of screens. It’s audio-only, but is still so engaging for kids.
Easy for Little Hands: The player’s child-friendly controls make it easy for even the youngest in the family to use. It’s empowering for them to pick a story or song without help.
A Library of Quality Content: Yoto offers a wide range of age-appropriate cards, from classic fairy tales and modern kids’ books to fun music and educational content. We’ve loved seeing our kids explore stories and songs that spark their imagination.
Perfect for Independent Play: Yoto encourages self-paced learning and quiet time, making it a lifesaver during busy moments or when we’re on the go. The player is so intuitive that even little hands can pop in a card, adjust the volume, and play their favorite stories without needing my help. It fosters independence in the sweetest way!
One of the most meaningful ways we’ve used the Yoto Player is by creating faith-based content to help disciple our kids. With the MYO cards, we’ve added Bible stories, memory verses, and worship songs. You could even do recordings of you reading scripture! It’s an incredible tool for weaving faith into their daily routines in a way that feels natural and engaging. Whether it’s playing worship music during morning playtime or a bedtime story about Jesus, the Yoto has become a meaningful way to keep God’s Word at the center of our home. This level of customization makes it a powerful resource for raising little disciples.
How to Create Your MYO Cards
While Yoto’s library is impressive, the Make Your Own (MYO) cards are where the magic truly happens. These blank cards allow you to upload any audio content you choose, making Yoto endlessly customizable. I love it because I am able to use whatever content I want, and am able to utilize the cards as discipleship, Bible study, and other faith-building content for my kiddos.
A step-by-step guide to creating your own MYO cards:
1. Gather Your Materials
You’ll need:
Blank MYO cards (available from Yoto)
Your chosen audio files (these can be recordings, songs, or stories -- see a more detailed list below!)
The Yoto app (downloadable on your phone or tablet) or login on a desktop
Sticker paper or printable Vinyl (I like the printable vinyl because it's thinner and easier to remove if you ever want to change the card!)
Canva account (use my free templates!!) Full Sheet Template or Individual Card Template
Scissors or cutting tool
Storage: plastic holder tabs & screw tight cable rings
2. Choose or Create Your Audio Content
Think about what your kids love. You can record your own voice reading their favorite bedtime story, create playlists of family-favorite songs, or find free audio resources online. We’ve even uploaded Bible stories and memory verses to make it faith-focused. See below for a full list of content ideas!
3. Upload Your Files to the Yoto App
Open the Yoto app, select “Make Your Own” from the menu, and follow the instructions to upload your audio files. You can organize them into chapters or playlists for easy navigation. You can also do this on the desktop, which I find much easier! When you are creating a playlist with your own content, you can even add your own pixel art to each track by clicking the image next to the track. Yoto has some available for you, or you can search places like Yoto Icons
to find ones that other people have created and uploaded! If you're really crafty you can even make your own on Canva.
4. Link the Audio to a Blank Card
Once your files are uploaded, the app will guide you through linking them to a blank MYO card. It’s as simple as holding the card up to your phone (or Yoto player!) — the technology takes care of the rest!
5. Design a Card Cover
Make your MYO card unique by creating a cover design. You can print out an image or let your kids draw their own. This adds a fun, personal touch and makes it easy to identify the card later. Keep reading to see my step-by-step on my DIY card covers!
6. Test and Enjoy!
Pop the MYO card into the Yoto Player to test it. Once everything is set, you’re ready to enjoy your custom creation. It’s such a rewarding process, and the kids love seeing (and hearing) the final product.
Free & Cheap Content Ideas
1. Check Archive.org for Free Resources
Archive.org: A treasure trove of books, audio, and more.
⚠️ Caution: Not all content is free to use legally. Look for items labeled as “Public Domain” or under a Creative Commons license. Always double-check the usage terms.
2. Convert Videos to MP3s from YouTube
Find free songs, educational videos, or stories that align with Yoto's style.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Only download or convert content if the creator explicitly allows it for personal use.
Use a tool like YTMP3 to convert YouTube videos to MP3 format.
3. Free Audiobooks and Music
Yoto Space: Discover free content shared by the Yoto community, including Make Your Own (MYO) card ideas.
LibriVox: Public domain audiobooks read by volunteers.
Free Music Archive (FMA): Free-to-download music under Creative Commons licenses.
4. Rip DVDs and CDs You Already Own
Use DVDs or CDs from your collection or thrifted finds to create your own Yoto audio. Grab a DVD/CD reader that connects to your computer or phone can help you extract audio files.
5. Purchase Content
Buy MP3 files or albums directly from iTunes or Amazon Music.
💡 Pro Tip: Use No-Rush Shipping Credits from Amazon orders to get free digital content!
6. Record Your Own Content
Create personalized Yoto cards using your voice memo app!
Here are a few ideas:
Bible Reading Stories: Record your favorite Bible stories for your kids to enjoy.
Scripture Verses: Read daily verses or themed scripture (e.g., gratitude, bedtime peace, etc.).
Personal Read-Alouds: Narrate beloved books or create custom bedtime stories.
Faith-Based Encouragement: Record affirmations or prayers.
Upload recordings to your computer, format them as MP3 files, and add them to a Yoto Make Your Own card!
Step-by-Step DIY Card Covers
I love creating my card covers using Canva! You can grab my free template & I'll walk you through my entire process from start to finish!
1. Design the card covers
Grab my free printable card covers template link here. Once you've logged in or created a Canva account, you can follow the instructions to customize the card covers for your needs. There are two options:
OPTION 1: Simply edit the content in the 'Design Option 1' template. Choose the photo, background color, and text you want on your card cover.
OPTION 2: Get a little more creative and design your card covers using my perfectly sized card design template.
With this method, you'll design the cards to look exactly how you want and then download them as PNGs or JPGs. From there, you can open my full sheet template, upload the photos into the project, and then drag them onto the 'Design Option 2' sheet images.
2. Print & cut
Whichever method you choose, the next step is to print the full sheet and cut them all out into individual 'cards'. I like to do this step before covering them with the laminating paper because I can have the lamination sheet slightly over the edge of the sticker so that it's really sealed in and is less likely to get damaged if the card gets wet!
3. Self laminate (optional, but recommended)
After cutting them out, I pull off the backing of a sheet of laminate and lay the cards face down onto the sheet. I make sure to keep a bit of space between each card so there will be that extra edge of laminate around each one!
4. Cut & apply
Once you have the card covers face down on the laminate sheet, you'll want to cut them all out, leaving about 1/8" of laminate around every card. This is what helps seal them in! After you have them cut out, you can peel off the backing of the sticker or vinyl, and place them onto your card.
5. Add tabs & add to ring
Stick your plastic tabs to the back of the card, and then add them onto your ring! Now you've got customized cards that are all in one place and easily identifiable for your littles. And that's it!
Wrapping It Up
Yoto has been such a sweet addition to our family. It’s one of those tools that makes parenting feel just a little easier while adding so much joy. My favorite part about them has been using the MYO cards! It lets us infuse our own creativity and values into this already amazing device. I have all our favorite yoto things curated into a list on my Amazon storefront! I will keep this updated as we continue to find new favorites!
If you’ve been curious about Yoto, I can’t recommend it enough—especially as a thoughtful gift for the little ones in your life. And if you already have a Yoto player, I hope this inspires you to try making your own MYO cards! The possibilities are endless, and the memories you create will be priceless.
Happy listening!
If you have any tips or tricks not mentioned here, please share them in the comments!
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you shop using my links!
