Review:TIMIO – the educational audio and music player for kids

Just a few more weeks and then the whole of the Netherlands will be able to get acquainted with TIMIO; an audio and music player for children between the ages of 3 and 7. We asked Claire from Claire's Mission, who is currently expecting her first child, to review this new gadget for us. Curious about all the possibilities and her findings? Then read on quickly.

Table of contents

First things first; what is TIMIO according to the maker?

TIMIO is an educational audio and music player designed for kids, but with parents in mind. TIMIO provides quality sound, interactivity and content to help develop your child's vocabulary, intellect and imagination. By using magnetic discs you can easily switch between (educational) games with TIMIO. From nursery rhymes and lullabies to fairy tales and vocabulary, all in 6 different languages, including Dutch. TIMIO will also ask questions and this interactivity enhances the learning process.”

Give your child the best start in life

TIMIO is the first interactive educational toy without a screen that grows with children from kindergarten to primary school. It helps to develop the intellect, vocabulary and imagination of children n. In this age of screen dependence, digital over-stimulation and low-quality plastic toys, TIMIO offers a smarter and healthier alternative.

'We believe in maintaining high standards for the things children play with and learn from. That is why TIMIO is a product that parents can rely on to shape children's brains by making connections between sounds and images that will support the vocabulary to understand and interact with the world around them. ‘

“The first five years of a child lay the foundation for the rest of her life. Her first relationships, environments and experiences determine how her brain develops.” UNICEF

All the advantages of TIMIO at a glance.

• Play it safe :Screens have been linked to addiction, sleep, vision, and other problems. TIMIO is screen-free. And because it is not connected to the internet, your child can play and learn safely.
• Easy to use :No installation and no internet required. Your child can independently insert a disc and tap an image to listen to the audio content.
• Use all senses :Because TIMIO is screen-free, your child learns to listen better. LED lighting and beautiful illustrations enhance the visual experience. Children practice their motor skills because TIMIO uses physical disks.
• Learn different languages :TIMIO develops a child's language skills. All discs and games are available in the following languages:English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch and Chinese!

About TIMIO's design

• Solid design :Easy to carry by children. Can take a beating.
• Rounded corners :Makes TIMIO softer and safer.
• Quality speaker :Great music and clarity of sounds help with vocabulary learning.
• Magnetically attached discs :Super easy to install – immediately ready for use.
• 12 discrete LED lights :Placed around the perimeter.
• Headphone jack :Yes, they have thought about it.
• 3 Volume Settings :Low, medium, high.
• Low battery consumption :Automatic shutdown when not in use for 5 minutes.
• Sturdy discs :Scratch resistant – unlike CDs which are easily scratched.
• 3 AA batteries :Not included. We recommend using rechargeable AA batteries.
• 3 trading positions :Leaning to listen, ready to wear and flat to play.

20 discs with content in 6 different languages!

• Listen and learn :TIMIO is ideal for helping children learn new words, songs and even stories. And because TIMIO doesn't have a screen, kids can expand their vocabulary while doing other things at the same time.
• Stories :Sometimes a busy life gets in the way of a beautifully elaborated story or fairy tale and that's a shame, because stories can be so magical! Trust the soothing voice of TIMIO's narrator to accompany your little one into the magical world of fairy tales.
• Piano :For the little artistic minds who already show an interest in music, we have good news! With TIMIO, children can learn different instrument sounds and musical tones and even compose their own little tunes.
• Sleep :As important as sleep is, some days it can be hard to make it happen. Unfortunately, TIMIO cannot help with the child's bedtime, but it is certainly useful when you need lullabies and calming sounds, such as nature sounds, to help your child fall asleep quickly.

TIMIO comes with a set of 20 discs, which provide enough content for the development of children from 3 to 8 years old. In addition, there are also discs that are especially intended for babies. For a comprehensive overview, click here.

Sounds promising! But how does TIMIO work in practice?

What a gift to unwrap! Everything has been thought of in terms of design and design. The packaging is sparkling and appealing to kids and parents alike. Nice to give and receive as a present!

In addition, in terms of content it is wonderfully simple and practical † The design of the TIMIO is very nice and the magnetic discs are super easy to apply. We were lucky that the batteries were already in the box (normally they are not included, so keep that in mind), so we could test the gadget right away.

We played a few discs especially for this review and everything is highly recommended! Every disc helps with the development of your child † Whether learn to tell time is, listen and learn songs or get to know animals † In addition, the spoken Dutch and English are great fun! Cheerful but at the same time perfectly articulated. So you can let your child play independently with peace of mind with the TIMIO!

Also great for when you're pregnant!

We are currently almost 7 months pregnant with our first child, according to the pregnancy calendar in the 3rd trimester. Although the TIMIO is mainly recommended for children from 3 to 8 years old, it is also a super nice 'toy' for when you are pregnant. Our little one is already very responsive to all the baby lullabies and started moving right away. So sweet! We have therefore decided to play a song every night before going to sleep so that when our little one is born he / she will already recognize the sounds.

Final conclusion of the TIMIO review:

We are fans! The TIMIO is highly recommended in all its facets. It is therefore not surprising that this gadget raised the necessary amount on Kickstarter within 12 hours. We are very happy with it and can't wait to see our little one get started with the TIMIO.

The price is also decent and fits perfectly with the educational character and the high quality † You pay EUR 119 including shipping. For more information about this educational toy, click here. If we rate it, it is without a doubt a big fat 10! Definitely recommended!

Is the TIMIO also something for your child?

Claire wrote this review especially for MamsatWork. But if you want to read more about Claire, you can also visit her blog. Claire blogs on Claire's Mission about everything related to her mission; to end animal cruelty worldwide. You will find articles about how you can become a do-gooder, how she experiences her pregnancy, reviews about animal-friendly products and much more.