Cross Culture Kids

Cross Cultural Kids

This group includes:

• Traditional TCKs –Children who move into another culture with parents due to a parent’s career choice

• Bi/multi-cultural/ and/or bi/multi-racial children —Children born to parents from at least two cultures or races

• Children of immigrants —Children whose parents have made a permanent move to a new country where they were not originally citizens

• Children of refugees —Children whose parents are living outside their original country or place due to unchosen circumstances such as war, violence, famine, other natural disasters

• Children of minorities —Children whose parents are from a racial or ethnic group which is not part of the majority race or ethnicity of the country in which they live.

• International adoptees —Children adopted by parents from another country other than the one of that child’s birth

• “Domestic” TCKs —Children whose parents have moved in or among various subcultures within that child’s home country.

  • Special note: Children are often in more than one of these circles at the same time. (e.g. A traditional TCK who is also from a minority group; a child of immigrants whose parents are from two different cultures, etc.) This helps us understand the growing complexity of the issues we face in our changing world.

Cross-Cultural Kids, Third Culture Kids, Global Nomads…What Are They?
 

Growing up in a culture away from the one imprinted on one’s passport isn’t such a rare experience anymore. Globalization has transformed the lifestyle of numerous families today. Parents and children from many nationalities move to different cultures for a variety of reasons, such as:

• business

• long-term tourism

• missionary work

• military postings

• educational opportunities

• lower-cost retirement

• instability in their home country

Children who spend a significant amount of their developmental years in another culture are deeply impacted. They develop a unique worldview and learn to adapt as they move between cultures. Oftentimes they have difficulty establishing a cultural identity of their own. For these children, the question, “Where are you from?” is difficult to answer.

A variety of terms attempt to describe this experience and the resulting identity these children develop:

• Hidden Immigrant

• Intercultural Kid

• Nomadic Child

• Multicultural

• Global Citizen 

• TCK

• Global Soul 

• Cultural Bridge

• Cultural Hybrid 

• Serial Migrant

• Global Nomad

• BIBIMBAP

• Transnational Child

• Balikbayan Kids

• International Children

• Borderlander

• Expat

Just some of the 50+ terms for children who have lived internationally. Because each child’s situation is unique, some terms describe their identity and background more accurately than others. One of the earliest and most well-known phrases used to describe these children is “third culture kids” (TCKs). More recently, the term “cross cultural kids” has gained more acceptance as an inclusive description of the many cultural influences' children can experience.

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Characteristics of a CCK

CCKs have great strengths. They are adaptable and flexible. Sometimes they are peacemakers and can bridge cultural gaps between peoples who don’t understand one another. They are relationally sensitive and concerned about world events. They often have special skills, such as speaking multiple languages.  

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But they also have struggles. Many have difficulty engaging in deeper relationships due to the number of times they have had to say goodbye and the grief they’ve experienced. They struggle adapting to their home culture and language and feel rootless. And they may have a difficult time feeling at home anywhere and having a sense of identity.

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CCKs see the world differently and have unique needs, and it’s important that parents understand how living in another culture impacts their child and shapes their identity.

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