Third Culture Kids
The 21st century will be remembered as the era of globalization. Americanmen and women are traveling to and living in countries throughout theworld, as their businesses move them from one office to another across theglobe. In many cases, these businesspeople are married and are joined by their children of varying ages. According to the book The Third Culture Kid Experience by David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken, the experiences of youths who spend asignificant part of their childhood living overseas are both beneficial andchallenging. The authors spoke with a number of Third Culture Kid (TCK)parents about the time spent in other countries. For others who plan ongoing abroad or have already left, the book brings new insights and givessupport knowing that one's family is not alone. It would also pay forcompanies to give a copy to each of its employees heading off to distantlands. For those who live in the United States, the book provides anotherway of looking at the impact of an increasingly global world. The authors offer this definition of the global child: A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the
On the other hand, these same youths maysometimes lose sight of their true identities, be more prejudiced becausethey consider themselves special, have difficulty making choices andmistrust authority figures. For example, these children sometimescan more easily adapt to changes, blend into diverse situations, have lessprejudice, recognize the importance of "now" and appreciate authority. Talking with others that have been through a similarsituation is very helpful, as well. Because of the many unknowns when living in another country, the stressorscan be even greater than usual, so it takes a strong, loving familialrelationship to successfully survive the bumps in the road. Parents of children who go abroad have challenges as well-someare the same and many are different than these stay-at-home folks. Although elements of each culture are assimilated into the TCK's life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background. Becausemost parents do not take a class in raising children, they often just wingit and hope for the best. Many of these suggestions can be helpful when raisingchildren at home or abroad. Another plus is gaining a host of newlanguage, cross-cultural, observational, and social skills. -3- Other challenges for TCKs include having personal difficulty becausethey require more structure and less movement in their daily lives, notknowing how close/distant they should keep their relationships with peoplethey meet away from "home," and having developmental problems such asearly/delayed maturity and adolescent rebellion issues. Whatkind of impact will this living arrangement have on these youths in thelong run' All child behaviorists recognize that boys and girls needstability and structure in the first decade of their lives. But theywill be much more turbulent if there are many unknowns. On the other hand, moving from place toplace also present challenges that may include: acquiring confusedloyalties, so that the children do not know their real home; getting apainful view of reality, because the youths see the good as well as the badthat occurs worldwide; and being ignorant of one's own culture, due tofeeling like a foreigner in a home country. As a result, the last few chapters of the book review some of theways that TCK parents can deal with the questions they may face when movingfrom place to place. Then, just when they think they have everythingunder control, another child comes along who is completely different fromthe first.
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