Maddie Pelz, founder of Grow Into Math, joins Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast to discuss the importance of play-based environments in alleviating math anxiety in children. She shares her research on innate math intuitions and the confusion often caused by formal education. Highlighting her experience, she emphasizes integrating math discussions into daily activities and the significance of foundational skills like cardinality and subitizing. Maddie encourages educators to observe and narrate children’s play to enhance math understanding and offers practical tips for incorporating math talk into routines.