Don't practice what you're preaching against. Affectionate joshing is a wonderful way to nurture a sense of humor, but let your child be the guide. If he doesn't react well, perhaps the subject matter has hit a nerve. By observing limits when you tease, you'll show your child how to clown around in a way that doesn't hurt people. What to do when your toddler teases Don't overreact.
Kids are notorious for noticing everything, and are usually quite vocal about it.
This is especially true of older toddlers, who often zero in on differences in the way someone looks or acts. Teasing can also be a way for your child to take control of a situation. He may tease a playmate so she runs off crying instead of taking her turn on the slide, for instance. Then he gets to go first. Finally, a child this age may simply be mimicing an older sibling, or testing you to see what kind of reaction he gets.