Math is a language. Just like with any other language, the earlier you start, the better you can get at it.
I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your thoughts, advanced to the stage of science, whatever the matter may be.
Mathematics is the only true metaphysics.
Margaret: You know all that math you're supposed to be learning? Mark: Maybe. Margaret: I'm going to teach it to you. Mark: Nope. Margaret: I can't keep hanging out with someone who's ignorant of basic logarithmic functions. Mark. Mark look at yourself. You're a nerd who sucks at math. Where does that leave you? So, the first thing you need to know about math is that it is always perfect.
For math to thrive, it has to connect to nature.