mother with child

What is expat child syndrome?

Expat child syndrome (ECS) refers to the emotional stress that children can feel when moving to a different country (which isn’t the one they grew up in). Most commonly, these children will have moved as a result of one or both of their parents pursuing a career opportunity, either temporarily or permanently, although this isn’t always the case, as families move for all sorts of reasons.

An expat typically has an intention to return to their home country or move to another at some point, rather than settling there permanently.

What does the term “third culture kids” mean?

Third culture kids (TCK) is a term created by sociologist Ruth Hill Useem. It refers to children who have spent their formative years immersed in a different culture to the one that either of their parents belong to, as a result of living abroad.

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