Teaching Tuesday

So I've been wondering how to making counting more applicable.  Big Boy can count to 13, sometimes to 16.  He's had that 13 done for over a year and I'm so proud of him.  So how do you go from "just counting" to "counting items?"  These are just a few ideas:

• Print a "tree" coloring page.  Color it and add "apples" with red circular stickers.  Number and count them.
• Print a "night time" skyline coloring page.  Color it and add foil star stickers (found in office supply stores).  Number and count them.
• Print a "sky" coloring page.  Color and add cotton ball "clouds."  Number and count them.
• Print a "turtle" coloring page.  Color and add triangle construction paper shapes in a design.  Number and count them.
• Print a "caterpillar" coloring page.  Use a paint dauber to make the design on the caterpillar.  Number and count.

Hope this helps you get started.  I know it's given me a few ideas to run with.  Now I'm off to look up some coloring pages.

What are your ideas for teaching numbers to your children?