I think this may have been shared a long time ago but I just ran across it again and wanted to share it for all the new parents. This is a great counting activity and can be used for patterning too if you incorporate 2 or more colors. It’s great for little ones who are new to the concept of stringing beads and don’t have the fine motor skills for the smaller beads.
http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/08/busy-bag-idea-pool-noodle-stringing.html