Home Assistant just got the kids' music player it deserves, and you can build it yourself

BailaBox open-source music player for Spotfy.Credit: Dr-harvey / GitHub Published Aug 10, 2026, 5:13 PM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account If your child loves playing the same song over and over again (like mine), you no longer have to keep an old phone handy or splash out for a dedicated device like a Toniebox or Yoto Player. Do-it-yourself enthusiast Dr-Harvey has built the BailaBox, an ESP32-based open-source music player for kids that brings back fond memories of CDs and vinyl. The project is an ESP32-based device that streams music to networked speakers using Home Assistant. Instead of tapping a screen, your little one puts 3D-printed NFC discs on a magnetic RFID reader to play songs, playlists, and audiobooks from Spotify or other services you have available. You can even have it perform whole smart home routines, such as a bedtime mode that dims the lights and queues up sleep music. 3-pack ESP32-S3 N16R8 The controls are limited to play and pause buttons as well as a large volume knob — thankfully, with adjustable limits. It's battery-powered and charges over USB-C, so your kid can take it around the home. How do I get this music player for kids? All the instructions are there, if you have the tools Dr-Harvey cautions that BailaBox is "not a finished commercial product or a certified children's toy." It's a hobbyist project he's sharing so that you can build it yourself. You'll need to 3D-print the enclosure, controls, and discs, not to mention order or make the printed circuit boards, source the ESP32 module (the creator uses an ESP32-S3), and find parts like the battery. Once the hardware is complete, though, it's just a matter of installing the needed ESPHome firmware and configuring a Home Assistant package. You'll want to make sure it's safe and working before handing it to children, of course. The concept of a kids' music player with physical media isn't new. I have a Yoto Player that uses cards to unlock music, stories, and activities, and it's a wonderful way to introduce digital audio without using screens. However, hardware like this can get expensive as you pay for more content. A DIY device like the BailaBox not only lets you use the services you already have, but offers smart home functionality you'll likely never find elsewhere.