I'm very much a novice with PS at the mo, but I've cropped the background of a bit closer, and altered the levels to bring him out of the shaddow. (I wasn't sure of other ways of lightening one side of his face).
I agree he does look like he's playing chess or something. He was actually waiting for his mum to light his birthday cake candles, but being full of cold wasn't his usual active self.
Do you think this looks any better?