Provide the child with individualized attention. There are many reasons for a preschooler's unhappiness, ranging from separation anxiety to sleep deprivation or even grumpiness due to a skipped meal. Giving the child your full and undivided attention will help you discover what the root of the unhappiness is as well as giving her positive feelings of encouragement. In a classroom full of kids, an unhappy child may just be feeling ignored. Directing individualized, encouraging attention will help the child to feel recognized, cared for and special.
Ask questions. It is imperative that you understand what the preschooler is trying to communicate to you. Get to the cause of the unhappiness by asking the child why he is sad, grumpy or angry. If he cannot verbalize what the problem is, help him figure out the right words through verbal prompts, such as "Can you tell me one thing that is making you sad?" or "What happened that made you angry?"
Help resolve the conflict or issue if this is the source of the preschooler's unhappiness. This could include arguments among children about sharing toys, mean words or even physical aggression. Bring any other children who are part of the problem into the discussion. Encourage the children to use their words and talk about what is happening. End with an appropriate, and understood, apology. For example, if Jenny takes Sara's doll and Sara is unhappy about it, ask Jenny why she took the doll. After she explains, ask Sara to tell Jenny how her actions made her feel. Ask Jenny how she would feel if someone took her doll then ask her to apologize to Sara.
Offer an alternative. If a child is unhappy because he misses his mom, who is at work, it may be impractical to have the mother return immediately. Redirect the child to another, more productive activity, such as drawing a picture for his mom or helping you put toys away so that the room is clean when his mother comes back to pick him up.
Reward positive behavior. If you see the child appearing to be happy, let her know you've recognized the change. Give her verbal encouragement and praise the emotional turnaround. Offer a small token of your happiness with her behavior, such as a sticker.