my son is very little as well... he'll be turning 4 tomorrow, but is the size of most 2 year olds. His first day of Pre-k, a kid said "you're not supposed to be in here! You're a baby!" i was mortified, but my son looked him right in the face, and said "i'm not a baby! I'm the same age as you!!!!".....i was very proud of him... believe it or not, the small kids are usually the tougher ones, that aren't quite as sensitive, because they can't be... hope this helps...

try to find compliments that are personal to him... something about himself that he feels really about. Like... he helps mommy bake or he can help clean up or whatever.... tell him that when other kids call him small to tell them right back that he can count to 10! or whatever... once the kids see that it gets at him and he looses it it will be hard to stop the bugging because kids don't care that he's small, they care that they can get him to freak out when they say it. If he can change the subject and have something impowering to say right back the kids won't find it as fun and your son will know how to respond with confidence.

my daughter is extremely sensitive. i would tell stories and read books about people of all different sizes--not just people who are small. only children (i have read) also have more problems with teasing since they are not exposed to it from siblings. i don't have advice on this, but maybe there are books about it. your son is probably very smart and observant and he is wondering what to make of all the differences.

Help him find words like lakesRus8's kid. If he can say "Please don't call me little." he may not need to have a tantrum, especially if it works. You could practice with him. If he catches onto it, it will empower him. You'll be teaching him to assert himself. Sometimes, 3's are just not ready for this though. Good luck.

The problem is not his size - it's that he is very sensitive. If only more poeple were sensitive. My middle child was so sensitive - he was sweet as could be but he was always upset about something. I don't have any advice for that really. Just be patient with him.

Thanks a lot for your kind words and advice!

I have a daycare and have seen lots of children that are smart for their age and their small. I just reassure to them that size doesnt matter. Kids can be cruel. Just reassure to him its ok to be small. When i was little I was the oldest and littlest. I use to tell the kids. "At least I can go under tables with out ducking"

My daughter's preschool teacher is reading this book with her class:

http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Tall-Molly-Lou-Melon/dp/0399234160

after reading it, she asked them to come up with their own scenarios. for example, if someone told you you couldn't use the art materials, would you just hang down your head and cry? of course, the kids scream "no" and come up with their own solutions.