Great Gift Idea #2: Bananagrams

What great games come in a banana, an apple or a pear? Answer – the Bananagrams line of games!

Using letter tiles, Bananagrams® is a game of speed and spelling.  It teaches kids letters, spelling and quick thinking. For adults, it makes you use your brain like speed Scrabble®.

The letter tiles come in a zippered fabric banana and go everywhere. Developed by the Nathanson family for their own family trips, this game and its related games has become an award-winning phenomenon. There are even Bananagram game books and calendars similar to Sudoku.

The game was introduced at the 2006 London Toy Fair and won at the 2009 International Toy Fair. Dr. Toy, Play Matters and iParenting Media, among many others, have all given Bananagrams awards for the fun and educational factors of this super speedy game.

The website show demonstrations of this game, and the sister games of Appletters®, Pairs in Pears®, Zip-It® and Fruitominoes®. Each game is word-related but has some different aspects to spelling, speed or matching.

We have Bananagrams and my kids love it. Even my 3-year-old, who is still learning to spell, likes telling me which letter are which and tries to spell simple words just for practice so it’s a learning tool as well.

Praise has come even this giving season from The Chicago Sun-Times, National Geographic Kids and National Public Radio.

So check out these great games for fun family time together at the holidays. They’re small enough to make great stocking stuffers or road trip treats for visiting the family this year. Go to www.bananagrams.com for locations and more information.