How to teach common sense

[Aunt Sponge]

For those who have a child who lacks this in it's most basic form (don't pick up things while they're on fire, don't step on broken glass, etc) you know exactly what I mean and what problem I'm having - please share your solutions!

How do you get a child who lacks basic concepts of "common sense" how to think ahead and be careful?
I've had to take on a lot of things as they happen and I'd like to start preventing instead of reacting, you know. But I'm lost - how can I prevent something from becoming a problem before we find out the hard way that he lacks the awareness of __ subject?

Example: I didn't know that one of my son's didn't understand that fire is hot - if a piece of wood is on fire don't pick it up.
When we were camping he tried to pick up a piece of burning wood that was *obviously* hot and on fire and burned his hands.
I just don't know how to prevent these things other than detailing everything I say with safety-cautions. Any help? Because it's become a serious problem around here and it has be very frustrated and lost. He has to learn how to be more independent - me detailing every minute detail of his life and what he does is frustrating and just not possible.

*edit* we use short stories - but sometimes they just don't work.

[Christine]

It's extremely, hard. My son had to learn the hard way, by touching something hot by accident.

I have no clue. I just used No symbols on stuff you couldn't touch and social stories. He still doesn't get some things.

[Aunt Sponge]

Thanks - I know, it's the hardest thing because common sense isn't so much taught as it is instinct and learned through exposure!