It’s time to start thinking about planning your summer family reunion and what better way to do it than by researching your family tree so you know who to invite!   Celebrating the new Familitchi V5, the newest version of the highly popular Tamagotchi Connection toy, www.TamaGenerations.com provides kids the chance to create family trees of everyone’s favorite Tamagotchi characters as well as collect hidden family heirlooms.  With help from partners, Family Tree Magazine and FamilyReunion.com, kids can create a personalized family tree online and learn fun tips on planning their very own family reunion party.  But the fun doesn’t end there!  Finding 20 family heirlooms will give one lucky kid the chance to win an Ultimate Tamagotchi Family Reunion for 25 family members with a special appearance from the special and fun Tamagotchi characters. 

With Tamagotchi Connection Familitchi V5, kids can raise their own family of multiple characters simultaneously in one toy. Expanding the Tamagotchi experience, Familitchi features many types of families and generations to be raised.  And, depending on how they care for their characters, kids can have fun experiences with the Mames (the intellectual family), Memes (artistic family), Kuchis (laid back family) and even the Violes (cheerful family.)  Kids are also charged with creating family togetherness and generating a strong family bond among their family of three siblings.  For more excitement, kids can marry their grown-up Tamagotchi characters to their friends’ characters and start a whole new generation of families by using the popular infrared technology feature. More information about the Tamagotchi V5 is available at www.Tamagotchi.com. 

“We believe that the new family feature of the V5 will encourage kids to have fun with their families by sharing, inspiring each other and just plain having fun,” said Colleen Sherfey, senior director of marketing, Bandai America Incorporated.   “That is why we are excited about our partnerships with Family Tree Magazine and FamilyReunion.com.  Together with the new Tamagotchi Connection Familitchi and TamaGenerations microsite we will get kids excited about exploring their ancestry and creating a stronger bond with their own family.” 

Family Tree Magazine, the country’s premiere family history magazine, is partnering with Tamagotchi by providing tips for the site including teaching kids how to research a family tree as well as pointers on how to celebrate their family’s heritage, including posing questions to grandparents and fun activity ideas to do at their next family reunion. 

 “Family Tree Magazine is excited to be working with Tamagotchi to reach young kids with a positive family-oriented message and teach them about their family history,” said Diane Haddad, genealogist and Family Tree Magazine managing editor. “Tamagotchi will help children learn how fun and educational creating a family tree can be!” 

TamaGenerations expands the amount of activities available in the newest addition to the Tamagotchi line, the Tamagotchi Connection Familitchi V5. The new site will give kids the opportunity to complete their own Tamagotchi family tree with their favorite characters. Exciting online activities include collecting Tamagotchi family heirlooms, customizing a Familitchi Reunion Memory Book, and getting tips on raising a happy and healthy Tama-family.  In addition to weekly prizes for kids who collect all 20 family heirlooms, one lucky child will win the Ultimate Tamagotchi Family Reunion, which includes a fully-catered reunion for 25 of their closest family members, complete with party favors and a visit from their favorite Tamagotchi characters. 

FamilyReunion.com, the leading family reunion planning site in America, is currently developing fun ideas specifically tailored for kids on how to plan a successful and exciting family reunion. Family reunions are a popular way of keeping connected with distant family members and for allowing kids to be more involved with their families. 

 “Tamagotchi’s focus on family trees and reunions is a great way for FamilyReunion.com to teach kids how to make family time more fun,” said Craig Richards, publisher of FamilyReunion.com. “Summer is a popular time to host a family reunion and the tips we provided will help families begin their planning now for a successful reunion.”