General Information about Adjustment Issues. Children and adolescents face many developmental changes and challenges that can be intensified by different emotional, medical, and situational factors. Parents often wonder how to speak with their children about difficult subjects such as divorce, adoption, chronic pain, physical and mental illness, and death and dying, and they may worry whether their children will develop problems when confronted with some of these events. Not all children experience significant distress in these situations, but it is important for parents to be willing to openly discuss their children's concerns and feelings and to be aware of signs of difficulties. We can help you to learn how to address these issues with your child and help ease their adjustment to them.