What Are Numbers Really?

i thought it would be good o to get into basically brief discussion of just what numbers are. I don't think you can begin to teach mathematics, or even arithmetic sense, by starting with the most basic questions like, what is a number? You actually have to start a higher level and work your way down to that. i find that it's often a learning experience about self and one's own mathematical skills by by looking at how kids to day are learning math.