how should i handle this? - DS being "picked on"

[deborah_r]

Nothing wrong w/ defending your child with a "he doesn't like that." If the caregiver isn't getting it (eye contact, or you are directly asking for them to intervene) then I'd approach the instructor in private.

I used "he doesn't like that" all the time! I liked it because I wasn't telling the other kid to stop or what they were doing was wrong, just speaking for my child a simple fact that he doesn't like that. Sometimes, you will get that parent who is like "how dare you address my child" so I liked to say as little as possible (with as little criticism of the other child) unless I was more familiar with the other parents.

[bubbaray]

You know, I'm not really convinced that this is normal behavior for that age group. I certainly never witnessed it when my girls were younger. I would be completely pi$$ed and would definitely play linebacker if I needed to. ITA with Lori too that your DS is too young to defend himself and you are certainly within your parental rights to do just that. If the other parents are not doing anything, I would TOTALLY confront them and demand that they stop their child from bullying mine.