Making Your Own Yoto Cards: Fast and Detailed Guide! 🎵📚

By Tara Rossow | December 6, 2024

Due to some fab feedback from one of the Yoto Community Pages, I have put together this guide…. It’s not super quick because I have done literal step-by-step. If you haven’t already read my ramblings about Yoto you can find it here.

Have you ever wanted to customize your kids’ Yoto cards with their favorite stories, songs, or even your own voice? Trust me—it’s much simpler (and more addictive!) than it sounds. Think of it as the modern equivalent of burning a CD or recording a mixtape. Once you get started, you’ll realize just how much fun it is to create something personal and unique. Plus, your kids don’t care if the cards are perfect. As long as they recognize the audio and have fun with the card design, you’re golden.

*not yet an affiliate marketer as I can’t work it all out. I will update and make it clear if that changes!

Here’s everything you need to know about making your own Yoto cards, along with some handy tips and a step-by-step guide.

What You’ll Need:

A Yoto device and app
Blank “Make Your Own” cards (available from Yoto); you do get 1 in the packet.
Audio files in MP3 format (use free MP3 converters online if needed)
CDs and computer with CD drive (if using this option!)
Optional: Stickers, markers, or printed images to decorate your cards, printer and laminator if you are using that option
(Optional) My FREE Google Drive template for MYO cards

Why Make Your Own Yoto Cards?

🎨 Creativity: You can customize cards with stickers, drawings, or family photos.
🎧 Flexibility: Add your child’s favorite songs, audiobooks, or even your own voice recordings.
💡 Cost-Effective: One blank card can be re-recorded and reused endlessly.
🕒 Timeless Memories: Record stories in your voice to cherish forever.

Quick Tips Before You Start:

MP3 Format is Key: Ensure all audio files are in MP3 format. Free online converters are lifesavers here.
Simplicity Works: Your child won’t mind if every card doesn’t have a unique or professional look. Stickers, drawings, or even a simple colored label work wonders.
One Card, Multiple Uses: Remember, you only need one “Make Your Own” card—you can rewrite it as many times as you like!

FAST Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Your Own Yoto Card ✅

Open the Yoto App: Navigate to the My Library section and tap on Make Your Own.
Record or Upload Audio: Choose between recording your own audio directly or uploading MP3 files from your device.
Convert to MP3 (if needed): If your audio files aren’t MP3, use a free online MP3 converter.
Create a Playlist: In the Yoto app or online, compile your uploaded files into a playlist. Name it something memorable.
Add a Cover Image: For ease of identification, add a picture or icon to the playlist using Google images or family photos.
Link to a Card: Insert your blank “Make Your Own” card into the Yoto device, go back to the playlist, and tap the three-dot menu. Select Link to a Card and follow the prompts.
Test Your Card: Insert the card into your Yoto device to ensure it works properly.
Decorate Your Card: Have fun decorating your card! Use stickers, drawings, or messages that your child will love.
Repeat or Update: Want to change the content? Simply overwrite the card with new audio files.
It sounds wayyyyy more complicated than it is. If you could burn a CD/tap (for those parents of a certain age, you will get me!) you can do this!

DETAILED FOR Smart PHONE

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Your Own Yoto Card ✅

Open the Yoto App: Navigate to the My Library section and tap on Playlists. There is a blue space with a + and click on that for creation.
- .
Create a Playlist: In the Yoto app, compile your uploaded files into a playlist. Name it something memorable
Convert to MP3 (if needed): If your audio files aren’t MP3, use a free online MP3 converter.
Record or Upload Audio: Choose between recording your own audio directly or uploading MP3 files from your device.
Add a Cover Image & Icons: For ease of identification, add a picture or icon to the playlist using Google images or family photos. You can go crazy with icons here, but honestly as long as they generally match OR make sense e.g. 1,2,3 then kids get it. They whole point of the device is listening so if they don’t recognise the song/story on the visual they will get it through listening!
Link to a Card: Insert your blank “Make Your Own” card into the Yoto device, go back to the playlist, and tap the three-dot menu. Select Link to a Card and follow the prompts.
Test Your Card: Insert the card into your Yoto device to ensure it works properly.
Decorate Your Card: Have fun decorating your card! Use stickers, drawings, or messages that your child will love.
- There are some pic’s below of options; again kids get it wayyy more than we give them credit for.
Rinse, Repeat and have fun!

DETAILED FOR COMPUTER (CD to Card)

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Your Own Yoto Card ✅

Open the Yoto App: Navigate to the Make Your Own section. You’ll need to be logged in.
Record or Upload Audio: Choose between recording your own audio directly or uploading MP3 files from your device. I imported a CD to iTunes – be sure to choose MP3 Format!
- You can see where I had it saved and that it is MP3 here. If its not you can use a free online converter (just google ‘free online MP3 converter’)
Convert to MP3 (if needed): If your audio files aren’t MP3, use a free online MP3 converter.
Create a Playlist: In the Yoto app, compile your uploaded files into a playlist. Name it something memorable.
- There is a blue button named ‘make playlist’ with a +.
Add a Cover Image: For ease of identification, add a picture or icon to the playlist using Google images or family photos. Just click on upload image. I just saved this image from Google.
Link to a Card: Insert your blank “Make Your Own” card into the Yoto device, go back to the playlist, tap on it and then select Link to a Card and follow the prompts.
Test Your Card: Insert the card into your Yoto device to ensure it works properly.
Decorate Your Card: Have fun decorating your card! Use stickers, drawings, or messages that your child will love. My free MYO template is linked at the top of the blog.
Repeat or Update: Want to change the content? Simply overwrite the card with new audio files.
Update Regularly: As your kids grow, refresh their cards with age-appropriate content. In theory you only need the 1x MYO card, but I would suggest a few. It does take a bit of time (around 30 mins for me to do this just now and take the photos) but once you get the hang of it is its fun and fast! The playlists save too, so really once you make it then it’s done.
Enjoy the Process: Making Yoto cards is a creative, rewarding activity—embrace it and have fun!

Storage Ideas

This is the finished product of the MYO.

Other Cool Ideas I’ve seen

Making recipes cards (maybe grandparents or family recipes) A great way for older kids to practice their independence skills!
I recently saw a custom Tooth-fairy Card which was VERY cool!!
Making custom cards or playlists and sending them to family who also use Yot
Reading stories in your voice for those kids who need loads of stories at bedtime. We do this! Oldest gets dressed and starts with a card and story while I sort out post-bath chaos and then we read more together.
Making themed ones for holidays, birthdays (I saw a lot of birthday card one in Covid!)
Parents and grandparents sending recordings and making cards, especially when long distance, again what we did when we were in England!

Would love to hear others ideas?

A Note from Me ✨

When I first started making Yoto cards, I was worried my kids would be picky about the designs or that I’d mess up the process (there are some very professional operations with the MYO when you start googling).

Spoiler alert: they didn’t care about the design at all! They just loved having their favourite audio on tap, and I loved seeing their excitement. Older kids might card, in which case they might want to be part of the process in helping!

This little DIY journey has been such a fun way to connect with my boys and spark creativity. I hope this guide helps you get started, whether you’re making a card for storytime, a playlist for car rides, or even a silly recording just to make your kids laugh.

If you’re a pro at Yoto cards or have some tips of your own, I’d love to hear about them in the comments! 😊 I’d love to see your photos too!

Happy Yoto-ing! 🎶

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Author

Tara is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, currently based in North Queensland. She has extensive experience working with children who have individual, additional and complex needs. She has a detailed understanding of early intervention, trans-disciplinary working, autism, sensory processing, as well as the importance of meaningful occupation. Her easy-going but effective approach works with families from all backgrounds, and her passion is ensuring that therapy ‘works in real life’ for families and children. She builds LHA and blogs in her evenings and spare time. She currently lives in sunny Townsville with her husband, Tim and their two sons.

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