A new report out says that girls are performing as well as boys in math. Take that, Math-is-Hard Barbie. But if you'd like your kids to enjoy math (not measured nor mentioned in the article), Seattle has its own super-cool math store, Math ‘n' Stuff, in the Roosevelt neighborhood.

Math ‘n' Stuff provides math tools and toys like building supplies; board games that make math amusing; manipulatives (small toys) for learning time, addition and subtraction; card games to build logic skills; plus puzzles for toddlers. Math ‘n' Stuff even stocks picture books about math.

Don't miss the sale shelves in the side-room, or the bins full of colorful dice.

Of course, racks supply workbooks if you'd prefer a paper-and-pencil approach, and those workbooks run the gamut from computational math to analytical problems. So wherever you fall in the trad math vs. new math debate, Math ‘n' Stuff offers hundreds of options.

Let's get something straight - I never relax with a glass of wine and an algebra workbook (who does?). I still have PTSD from Mr. McKay's 9th grade geometry class.

But Math ‘n'Stuff is one of my favorite toystores in Seattle. I always find something surprising and new that makes me rethink my mathphobia.

Contact Lora Shinn at littlekidsbigcity@nwsource.com or see previous entries at http://littlekidsbigcity.com

Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company