u/PRABHAT_CHOUBEY

My daughter is just 5 years old, and she’s already obsessed with numbers. Last month, she came home saying she wanted math toys like the ones her friend has. I had no clue what that meant. So I asked her if I was an abacus. Counting bears? Flashcards? She didn’t know the name either. She just described it to me, and they used it to play games in school.

So, I went with what was described and searched different online websites. I checked Amazon first and got overwhelmed. Everything was £20+ for a box of plastic shapes, and the reviews were full of parents saying half the pieces went missing in a week. I wasn’t ready to drop that kind of money on something she might ignore in three days.

My sister buys bulk craft stuff off Alibaba for her nursery class, so I searched for 'wooden Montessori math toys' there just to see what came up. Found a listing for a wooden fraction board and a set of number rods for under £8 total plus delivery , but my worry was that it would not get here in time so i decided to check the local toy store and saved delivery.

Went during the week and got it . The fraction board is solid and lightweight. Not what I actually expected. It looks like a tray with colored pieces with different shapes that are in halves and quarters. She however noted that it wasn’t the one her friend had. She was disappointed, but as days went by, I noticed she’s actually into them. We just played pizza fractions at dinner. She used the rods to measure her stuffed animals. She told me that she loved it and it’s better than the one her friend has. I’m more than happy, but for £8, I must tell you they’re definitely worth it.

I rarely wash my makeup brushes. What's your routine and what do you use?

As the title says...... Please give me the hidden gems that don't always make it into the top search results. Like where did you go that made you think...... why is everyone else crowding into the same three cities when this exists ?