Tool
NFC Toddler Player
LiveTap a card, music plays. No screens needed.
My son loved music but couldn't navigate a music app. I didn't want to hand him a phone or tablet just to play a song. So I built this.
You print or write on physical cards. Each card has an NFC tag attached. When he taps a card on the phone, it plays that song or playlist. That's it.
What you need
- 1.An Android phone (NFC must be on)
- 2.NFC tags — cheap stickers, about 40 cents each. Find them on Amazon
- 3.The app installed on your phone
- 4.Cards, stickers, or anything you want to attach the tags to
How to set it up
- 1.Open the app and tap "New card"
- 2.Choose what it plays — a song, playlist, album, or podcast
- 3.Hold your phone over an NFC tag to write it
- 4.Stick the tag on a card, a toy, a picture — anything
- 5.Your toddler taps it and the music plays
Ideas that worked for us
🌙
Bedtime card
A calming playlist that starts automatically when he taps it before bed.
🚗
Car card
His favourite playlist for the car. He holds it himself the whole drive.
🎉
Dance card
High energy songs for when he needs to move. He calls it the dance card.
📖
Story time
A podcast or audiobook for quiet time. Tap once, stories play.
🖼️
Picture cards
Print a picture of the artist or album cover and stick the tag behind it. He chose the card by the picture.
🎨
Colour-coded
Different coloured cards for different moods. He learned what each colour means.
A few tips
- — NFC tags work through most materials. You can laminate the cards.
- — Make sure your phone screen is on when tapping — some phones require it.
- — Start with 3-4 cards. Too many choices overwhelms toddlers.