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I would definitely bring it up! I like the "I'm mighty" response

I would add that at this age small doesn't bring with it any associations, good or bad. It is therefore essential that you don't make too big a deal of it. They say kids can be cruel but mostly they are just observant and Layla is smaller than them right now so they will comment. Its up to you and Laylas teachers to make sure she doesn't start seeing this as a negative thing, by making a massive deal of it. I like the idea of talking to the teachers (and @T.H.O.U.: gives a good example as to why) but please don't be the one to make the connection between small and negative feelings, when its what you are trying to prevent - I know you must have tons of feelings left over from when you were a child but this doesn't have to be laylas experience.

Or you could b1tch-slap any kid who mentions it. That's what Id do!!

I was always teeny tiny (now I'm only 5' even) and I remember it being really annoying when other girls would try to pick me up all the time or make me the "baby" when playing house or whatever.

I love the "I'm mighty!" response! If you think you should talk to the teachers, I would. As a pre-k teacher, I've dealt with this before. I make sure all the kids take turns with roles such as being the "baby" and I tell them that we are all "big kids", so no one should be trying to carry around other children.

I was always the shortest girl and class and my last name was "small." Insert any joke here. So, I was teased my whole life. My parents never said anything and it never bothered me. In fact, people think little girls are adorable and I loved the attention.

Sounds like you would feel better bringing it up. The teacher has probably watched this happen in other classes too so might have some ideas. I wouldn't worry about being high maintenance unless you just say 'boo kids are calling my daughter short - make it stop', but that doesn't sound like you. Sounds more like you want to brainstorm ideas with the teacher on how to make sure lala feels secure, which I think most teachers will understand.

Petite is sweet! I think bringing it up with the teacher could be a good idea...Something along the lines about how to NOT make it an issue. I love that you gave her words to say to empower herself above her stature.

I was the shortest in my grade in fifth grade and I didn't appreciate being teased about liking the smallest boy in the grade.

I was trying to think of how I would handle it if my son were in the situation and I really struggled with it! He's on the other side of things, he's tall for his age and it often results in people having unrealistic expectations of his capabilities, especially at the playground.

I would try instead to redirect to the fact that there are big and small things in the world and that's how it is supposed to be. It wouldn't be any fun if everything were all the same size. Sometimes, kids say things as a statement of fact, my son does this all the time and he doesn't mean it as an insult. He's also 34 months, and I honestly don't think he would understand what the comeback of "mighty" means.

I think you should definitely talk to the teacher during conferences! I'd think the teacher would want to know about what's going on in her classroom, and it seems like this situation could be easily monitored so it doesn't evolve into something more.

We also read a book a week or two ago called... Collywobble; I think it would fit this situation well, if you wanted to look for it at the library. small IS mighty!

@Mrs. Jacks: I despise those yearbook categories and all the popularity contests in high school, I never understood the appeal of the homecoming court, but maybe it's because I was struggling with my own physical insecurities? No idea!

I wasn't tall, I am 5'4" and I would love to either be 2 inches shorter so I could properly wear the petite size or 2 inches taller so I could wear regular length pants without hemming! I do think there's even a second dimension to what you posted above, that it's okay for boys to be tall, but tall girls are often singled out as well (as are short boys, where it's okay for a girl to be petite).

@Mrs. Jacks: That's awesome, someone else on the planet that sees the pants issue the same way! Yahooo!

Aww...kids can be so mean without knowing it, especially the younger ones. I don't think it would hurt to bring it up to her teacher and see what she/he has to say about it. And either ask for her advice or maybe even ask to offer your advice that would best fit her personality because you know her best.

I'm sure she will grow up fine just like her mommy though! Sometimes a little teasing will toughen some kids up! It did for me even when it sucked at the time. I was always the ONLY Chinese girl in my school for a very long time. Kids were mean and some teased me for having smaller eyes (mine aren't small by any means if you compare it to other Asian women) by pulling their eyes from the outside so it's smaller. Some even went as far as teasing me about speaking a different language even if my English was perfect.