Raising Third Culture Kids in Thailand
Raising Third Culture Kids in Thailand
Third Culture Kids or TCKs are not something new in Thailand. Many families relocate to another country for job opportunities or a better quality of life, for that the number of TCKs has increased alongside with growing prevalence of interracial marriages. While there are some benefits to being TCKs but they also often face challenges as well.
Understanding the experiences of third-culture kids in Thailand can prepare kids and parents to have their best lifetime experience and finally feel at home. This includes addressing common third culture kid’s problems and how parents can support their children by seeking a child & teen counselling advice as a guidance to overcome these challenges.
Third Culture Kids – Meaning and Origin
The concept of third culture kids refers to the formation of a “third culture,” which combines elements of the child’s parents’ home country (“first culture”) and the host country (“second culture”) where the child’s family has migrated to or lived. Third Culture Kids share commonalities with those living an internationally mobile lifestyle, which derives from their home culture and host culture (“third culture”)
Who are Third Culture Kids?
A third culture kid was originally defined by David Pollock. Later then, the term “third culture kids” was created by two sociologists, Ruth Hill Useem and John Useem. Since our world is changing ever so vastly, the concept of third culture kids is also changing. Before, third culture kids considered that children travel with their parents overseas to accompany and live with them while their parents work. However the term in the twentieth century, third culture kids is an abbreviation for TCK and is defined by the child’s age, personality, and characteristics.
According to Pollock and Van Reken (2017), a TCK is defined as
“a person who spends a significant part of his or her first eighteen years of life accompanying parents into a country that is different from at least one parent’s passport countries due to a parent’s choice of work or advanced training.”
Source: https://interactionintl.org/third-culture-kid-definition/
What is the difference between Third Culture Kids and Cross Culture Kids
Not everyone in Thailand is familiar with the concept of Third Culture Kids, which can lead to misunderstandings. Some people might confuse third culture kids with cross culture kids, in fact, TCK is actually a subgroup of CCK. The difference is that cross culture kids are anyone who grows up with more than one cultural environment within the family. This might include local students attending international schools within their home country’s borders, children adopted by families from another culture, and children with parents having different cultures. On the other hand, TCKs frequently move around and encounter people from different cultures and parts of the world. It is somewhere in between the culture they live and the culture of their ethnicity. For example, Kobe Bryant who grew up in Italy but was born in Pennsylvania.
Types of Third Culture Kids (TCKs)
- Military kids
- Foreign service kids
- Missionary kids and corporate kids
- International business kids
Additionally, Thai culture is unique—more collectivist, with a strong emphasis on respect for elders and indirect communication, while Western culture values individualism, direct communication, and independence.
The Advantages And Challenges Of Being a Third Culture Kid
While third culture kids have the advantage of diverse experiences that can enhance their lives, they also face significant challenges that can affect their emotional well-being and sense of identity. Understanding these complexities is important for supporting TCKs in their journeys.
The Advantages Of Being a Third Culture Kid
Being a Third Culture Kid (TCK) provides unique advantages, including an expanded worldview and a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. Ultimately, TCKs gain valuable skills that prepare them for success in an interconnected world.
- Expanded Worldview: TCKs gain a broad understanding of different cultures, which helps them appreciate diversity. Their experiences living in various places teach them that there are many ways to see the world, allowing them to be more open-minded and understanding of different perspectives.
- Three-Dimensional View of the World: Having lived in multiple countries gives TCKs a deeper understanding of global issues. They don’t just read about different cultures or watch documentaries—they’ve experienced them. This firsthand knowledge allows them to connect with stories and events on a personal level, enhancing their empathy and creativity.
- Cross-Cultural Enrichment: TCKs learn to enjoy and celebrate cultural differences. They often blend aspects from different cultures into their own lives, creating a rich tapestry of experiences. This ability to navigate and appreciate diverse traditions makes them adaptable and resourceful.
- Empathy and Adaptability: Interacting with people from various backgrounds helps TCKs develop strong empathy and adaptability skills. They become skilled at understanding others’ feelings and navigating social situations, which can be a huge advantage in both personal and professional settings.
- Multiple Cultural Ownership: TCKs often feel a connection to multiple cultures, which adds to their sense of identity. This diversity enriches their lives, allowing them to draw from various cultural influences and appreciate the richness of their experiences.
- Learning new languages: Moving to a different country can be beneficial in terms of learning other languages. Which can be one of the most important skills to have given the world we are living in.
- Develop Career Choices: Third culture kids can develop strong academic and social skills such as multilingualism, critical thinking, adaptation, cultural sensitivity and global awareness. Their experiences also enhance their collaborative skills and ability to work with diverse groups. With these skills, they can have more advantages and opportunity to choose their career path.
The Challenges Of Being a Third Culture Kid
Third Culture Kids (TCKs) face unique challenges that can affect their emotional well-being and identity. Frequent moves can also result in the loss of friendships, making it difficult to build lasting connections and leading to feelings of loneliness. Overall, while TCKs enjoy rich cultural experiences, they must navigate complex emotional landscapes that complicate their sense of belonging.
- No Sense of Belonging: TCKs often feel torn between their home and host cultures, leading to confusion about what “home” truly means. This can create inner conflict in self-value and a sense of not fitting in anywhere, as they struggle not to fit any social norms and cultural beliefs.
- Confused Self-Identity: TCKs might struggle to understand who they are while moving around with different cultures and traditions which could lead to self-doubt or feelings of being treated as differentiated from others. Conflicting self-identity could lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and trauma.
- Languages barrier: TCKs might be able to speak multiple languages but not fluent in any. This leads them to sometimes regret not learning the host culture’s language, feel different, or disconnect from the host’s country people.
- Lack of close friends: Loss of friends is a common issue for TCKs, who often grieve the departure of friends and teachers, leading to more casual friendships as a way to cope with repeated loss.
- Difficulty Understanding Parents’ Values: TCKs may feel confused because their parents want them to adhere to the traditional values of the host country while also being exposed to Western or home culture. This lack of understanding of their parents’ values and mindset can lead to a lack of safety, comfort, and continuity during their initial adjustment phase.
Supporting Third Culture Kids
Supporting Third Culture Kids (TCKs) is vital as they often face challenges like a lack of belonging, confused self-identity, language barriers, and difficulty forming close friendships. By addressing these issues, parents can support third culture kids in overcoming the challenges.
- Help Them Define Their Identity: Parents or teachers can help support children with long-term identity development by helping them specify their identity and address where they are from, showing them the positive side of being a third culture kid and mixed culture that it special and when they are encountered by others, they feel unique when they address themselves as to who they are, in relation to other people.
- Balance Home and Host Cultures: Parents can help their children recognise the similarities and differences between their home culture and the culture of the country they are currently living in. Parents should also encourage their children to appreciate and value each of their identities, building their confidence and self-worth. By fostering an understanding of their unique perspective, TCKs can embrace their multifaceted cultural identity with pride, reducing self-doubt and finding the balance between the cultures they are connected to.
- Choose the Right Schools: Adjusting to a new country and culture can be difficult sometimes, hence choosing a suitable school can be a tremendous help for your kids. For example, schools with an internal curriculum might allow them to feel more comfortable and engaged to learn. Also, most international schools provide different learning styles, in different languages, which can help them adapt to the new environment easier.
Moreover, they are likely to meet other TCKs whom they can share the same experiences with and build strong relationships with.
- Encourage Open Communication: When children have to relocate from their home country. Having an open communication within the family not only strengthens family bonds but also helps reduce stress and provide stability for the TCKs. When kids are involved in decisions about moving, the communication and closeness within the family can ease their adjustment to new environments. This sense of safety and continuity, provided by family relationships and shared rituals, helps children feel at home even in unfamiliar surroundings.
Key Takeaways on Supporting and Raising Third Culture Kids in Thailand
In conclusion, Third Culture Kids (TCKs) in Thailand and in many other countries experience both the enriching benefits and complex challenges of growing up between cultures. While they gain a unique perspective and adaptability, they also face issues like identity confusion, language barriers, and a lack of belonging. By supporting TCKs in embracing their multifaceted identities, parents can help them develop confidence and resilience. Additionally, choosing the right schools, encouraging open communication, and fostering cultural balance are key strategies for supporting TCKs to thrive.
To further assist families and TCKs during difficult times counselling can be invaluable in navigating these challenges together.
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Useful Resources
https://research.library.mun.ca/14078/1/thesis.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9743971/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338448523_The_Experiences_of_Third_Culture_Kids_in_Thailand