English term or phrase for the German "spötteln"

tease ^{_{(dictionary.com)}}
to irritate or provoke with persistent petty distractions, trifling jests, or other annoyances, often in a playful way
If your little sister is teasing you about your boyfriend and following you around making kissy faces, it’s because she’s jealous and wants your attention.

"spötteln" Q: What would be an English approximation to this?

"Father always had a habit of making light-hearted remarks about his sons' girlfriends"

"Even in times when she was not doing well economically, Grandma always managed to maintain a light-hearted approach to conversation about the most mundane things."

OED

light-hearted

1.b. Characterized by cheerfulness or easiness; amusing, entertaining.

2007 Daily Tel. 9 July 17/5 A light-hearted speech in which he talked about his own problems with drink.

And from Google Books:

"Play from Birth to Twelve: Contexts, Perspectives, and Meanings" Doris Pronin Fromberg, ‎Doris Bergen · 2015 PAGE 138

His or her attitude can visibly shift from a lighthearted, “What if I do this?” attitude to a “Why won't it do that?” attitude. This shift from “I” to “it” is the death knell for constructive play (Forman & Hill, 1984).

light-hearted also has the nuance of "not taking the subject too seriously".

1919 H. F. P. Battersby Edge of Doom xxx. 259 The merry young gunner made some light-hearted remark on their morale, and was startled and almost shocked by the curse that came from Chaytor on the ways of war.

I would have suggested both 'mocking' and 'taunting', as well, but how about 'trifle'?

Dictionary.com defines it as:

to deal lightly or without due seriousness or respect

Etymologically, 'trifle' is related to 'idle talk', 'deceit', and, again, 'mocking', but (especially in comparison to the other synonyms) I think the idleness has emphasis here—it is also defined as "to act or talk in an idle or frivolous way"—and this lack of complete interest, concern, and (therefore) contempt, seems to be at the core of 'spötteln'.