[lm2s]

Another way to teach them about hot things is to have something that is uncomfortably hot but won't burn if you touch it for a few seconds*, warn them that it's hot and remove the fingers quickly but let them touch it anyway. They won't burn themselves but will understand what is hot and will understand when you tell them that it's hot.

The side effect of this, is that then they might be scared of things that are only slightly hot. But that's something easier and less risky to deal with IMO and they'll eventually understand that there's different levels.

*babies/toddlers have a skin that is a lot more sensitive, so this should be taken into consideration.