A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents' culture. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture may be assimilated into the TCK's life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background.
From Third Culture Kids: Growing Up among Worlds, David C.Pollock and Ruth E.Van Reken, 2009
The TCK phenomenon affects all students at Graded School. Either you are an expat family, traveling from one foreign assignment to another, or you are a local family which may include multinational parents, or Brazilian parents, whose children study in an American school, filled with TCKs. If you have a TCK, your child must be flexible adapting to frequent moves but the grieving process, associated with making and losing friends, is often more salient for those that are left behind.
Becoming familar with the TCK literature is important for all parents in international schools, particularly if their child has special needs.
Libby Stephens: Humanizing the Transition Experience
TCK Academy's Expert Interview Series
TCK Resources from Eurotck.net
More interesting articles on TCK:
NYTimes Article by TCK journalist Anne-Sophie Bolon
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