RAISING THIRD CULTURE KIDS

We dive into the cultural nuances of children raised outside of their parents’ country of origin.

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In a world where globalisation is on the rise, more families than ever before are moving from country to country in search of new employment opportunities, access to better healthcare and education or a more favourable political environment and lifestyle. Children who spend much of their formative years outside either of their parents’ dominant culture or place of birth are referred to as ‘third culture kids’. While this upbringing offers a myriad of opportunities and often gives rise to some developmental superpowers, it also presents unique challenges for both parents and little ones when it comes to understanding their place in the world. In this article, we’ll explore what it means to raise third culture children and provide practical tips for managing the ups and downs.

UNDERSTANDING THIRD CULTURE CHILDREN

Third culture children are exposed to a blend of cultures, often resulting from their parents’ international assignments, expatriate lifestyles or multicultural backgrounds. As a result, they often synthesise elements of their first and second cultures to develop their own ‘third culture’, mixing aspects from their home culture, and host culture, alongside the global communities they encounter. These children may get along best with other kids who also experience the same cultural jumble. How each child adapts or handles their circumstances is heavily influenced by their individual personality and disposition, but also the duration of their time abroad, their age, the length of time they previously spent in their ‘home’ country and their parents’ attitude. The good news is that little ones cope with this mixed, culturally nomadic way of life very well.