By Charlene DeLoach, Chief Play Officer, Playroom Chronicles

A quick note: This content was created in partnership with one or more of the brands featured. I may have been paid, received products, or both. Paid or not, I’m still going to tell you what I think because none of us needs another toy our kids won’t play with.

Think Bananagrams Is Just a Table Game? Think Again.

When most parents pull out Bananagrams from Moose Toys, they picture the kitchen table, rainy days, or family game night. But here’s something many families don’t realize: The letter tiles are waterproof. That opens up an entirely new way to play during the summer.

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Whether you’re heading to the beach, spending the afternoon by the pool, camping for the weekend, or taking a family road trip, Bananagrams becomes more than a spelling game.

What Are Bananagrams?

Bananagrams is a fast-paced word-building game where players race to connect letter tiles into crossword-style grids. Unlike many traditional word games, there’s no board to set up, making it incredibly portable.

Even better? The durable plastic tiles are waterproof, making them perfect for outdoor adventures that most families never think to try. They are best for kids ages seven and up, though they do have a My First Bananagrams that is great for younger kiddos or those that need more support.

10 Bananagram Summer Play Ideas

1. Seashell Spelling Hunt

Hide letter tiles in the sand before your child arrives. Just create a defined area using rocks or other objects to clearly mark the hunt zone. As they uncover each tile, challenge them to spell something they can actually see around them or have them go find the object. you can do this at the beach or in a sandbox/play table.

Ideas include:

• shell (they now have to go find one)
• sand (they collect some)
• water (they gather a cup of it)
• seaweed (they grab a piece!)

Skills: Vocabulary, observation, spelling

2. Sandcastle Signs

After building a sandcastle, use the tiles to create signs on the sandcastle.

Try words like:

• Castle
• Welcome
• King
• Queen
• Moat

It turns a simple sandcastle into an imaginative world.

Skills: Creativity, storytelling, literacy

3. Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

While similar to #1, this time you don’t bury any letters. Instead, just call out a letter. Kids must find something nearby that starts with that letter before spelling it with the tiles. This is great for car rides or city visits

For example:

• Road
• Tree
• Car

Now they’re learning without even realizing it.

Skills: Beginning sounds, observation, vocabulary

4. Pirate Treasure Hunt

Spell clues with the tiles that lead to buried treasure.

Examples:

• DIG
• LEFT
• ROCK
• TREE
• STOP

Hide a small prize at the end for an unforgettable adventure.

Skills: Reading, sequencing, problem-solving

5. Floating Word Race

Drop several tiles into the shallow end of the pool. Call out a word. Players race to collect only the letters they need before spelling it poolside.

Skills: Letter recognition, spelling, gross motor skills

6. Splash Categories

Choose a category before each round.

Examples:

• Sea animals
• Summer foods
• Things at the beach
• Ice cream flavors

Everyone has one minute to spell an answer. You’ll be surprised how creative kids become.

Skills: Vocabulary, flexible thinking, categorization

7. Sprinkler Scramble

Scatter the tiles across the lawn while the sprinkler is running. Call out a word. Kids dash through the water collecting only the letters they need. Learning suddenly becomes a backyard obstacle course.

Skills: Listening, spelling, coordination

8. Giant Sidewalk Words

Use sidewalk chalk to draw oversized letter spaces.Then build giant words using the tiles. Bonus challenge: Can kids create the longest summer word they can think of?

Skills: Spelling, spatial awareness, creativity

9. Road Trip Word Spotting

Driving somewhere this summer? When you pass a state sign, restaurant, or landmark, use the tiles to spell it. Older kids can spell the state capital or another word associated with that location. Suddenly, the miles go by much faster. Or use the tiles for a reverse state license plate game. Once they see a license plate with that state letter, they can remove it from the pile. Like if they see Florida, they can remove the F from the pile.

Skills: Geography, reading, observation

10. Campground Nature Challenge

Take Bananagrams on your next camping trip. Kids explore the campsite looking for things they can spell.

Ideas include:

• pine
• fern
• lake
• bug
• camp
• fire

Nature becomes the classroom.

Skills: Nature observation, vocabulary, independent exploration

Why Parents Love This

One toy. Ten completely different ways to play. Instead of packing separate travel games, beach toys, learning activities, and rainy-day entertainment, Bananagrams can do a little bit of everything all in one trip too.

Better yet, every activity encourages kids to move, explore, imagine, and interact with the world around them instead of another screen.

The T.O.Y. Recap

Takeaway: Waterproof toys can create learning opportunities almost anywhere and not just at the table.

Opportunity: Bring Bananagrams to your next beach day, pool party, camping trip, or vacation and try one of these activities.

Your Next Step: Save this list, pack Bananagrams in your summer bag, and discover just how many ways one simple game can inspire play.