8 Toys and Apps to Prevent Summer Brain Drain

What it is:The new, waterproof Jumbo Bananagrams Word Board Game ($28) has tots race against each other to build a crossword puzzle using all of their letters as quickly as possible. Given the new game's size, it's great for picnics, the beach, and the backyard.

What it teaches: Bananagrams is great for building vocabulary and encouraging kids to practice their spelling.

Who it's for: Early readers on up — starting around age 5.