TCK's: Third Culture Kids

     A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is an “individual who, having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than the parents’ culture, develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any.”  This description may include military, missionary, diplomatic and other expatriate children.  These are the kids we will be teaching and loving on over the next two years (at least).  We believe that each person is a unique individual with God-given potential and interests, but we have also been learning about the benefits and challenges shared by many TCK’s because of their highly mobile and cross-cultural young lives.  Kids like these have been in our classrooms in the U.S., but at international schools they compose most, if not all, of the student body.

     Because of their high mobility, TCK’s are often flexible, confident in change, recognize the importance of now, and have an global relationship bank.  They are relationally rooted rather than geographically rooted but often struggle greatly with the question, “Where are you from?”  They have a migratory instinct that may impact career and family choices later in life.

     TCK’s value relationships and often enter into deeper levels of intimacy at a quicker pace than the rest of us (imagine the implications of this in dating); however, they often are deeply guarded about the deepest levels of relationship.  They are often independent and self-reliant, but may be lonely.  They must learn to deal with grief over lost relationships, places, etc.

     These kids have a global cultural collection of social skills, food, art, and knowledge.  They are gifted observers and adapters, culturally tolerant in the best way, adventurous, linguistically adept, and highly motivated.  Are you jealous yet?  They may find themselves uncertain in their passport country, especially among peers, because of a lack of knowledge about pop culture or subtle social cues.  They can be perceived as arrogant as they “place drop” even though they are just telling the stories of their childhood like any person does - theirs just happened to be in the Amazon or the Alps or Australia.  

     TCK’s need a lot of the same things that all kids need: a relationship with Jesus, solid boundaries explained well, kindness and compassion, adults who show interest in them and their unique experiences, honest and gentle answers to their questions, sometimes a safe place to get in trouble, and prayer.  Keeping in mind their identities as TCK’s will help us meet these needs more effectively.

     At PFO we met several adult TCK’s and took part in a TCK panel with a Q&A time.  Their experiences are vast and diverse and they unanimously affirmed that they would not trade them for the world despite hardships they have come through.  TCK’s, we are so excited to meet more of you!