Aged five or fifty-five, expatriate life presents a number of difficulties to those living abroad. Just as adults do, young children deal with a specific set of challenges after moving to a new environment.
While children under the age of six do tend to have short memories about their past life, this does not make their adjustment to life abroad any easier and faster than that of their parents. Regardless of where they live, children of young ages are going through a very observational period of life; a time of intense learning and personality development. Relocating a child into a new environment with a different culture and language may result in confusion on how to behave in certain situations and in some instances, cause the child to retrograde, become reclusive or slow their progress in establishing their own personal identity.
This however is not to say that caring parents should avoid bringing their child with them along their journey abroad.
What is a Third Culture Kid?
There is a constantly growing number of people were raised in an environment outside of their parents’ culture, known as Third Culture Kids (TCKs) who are, of course, highly-functioning individuals (Barack Obama, current president of the United States is a TCK). In fact, there are many benefits to growing up as a TCK, such as heightened cultural sensitivity and expanded worldviews; but there are certain things a parent can do to ensure their child develops into the most adept and adaptable person they are capable of becoming.
The Montessori Method: Why It’s Great for TCKs
An alternative yet highly regarded educational philosophy known as the Montessori Method is arguably one of the most beneficial learning styles for TCKs. Based on the research and experiences of Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, the Montessori Method is an educational approach for children that advocates freedom in an environment prepared with materials designed for self-learning and individually challenging activities.
Focusing learning practices on enabling children to work independently as opposed to keeping an entire class on the same pace, the Montessori Method allows young learners to reach new levels of autonomy, become self-motivated students and realize their personal potential. While the Montessori Method is by no means reserved just for TCKs, these are qualities that are especially important for children brought up in foreign cultures to develop.
Montessori Learning in Bangkok
Cedric Grondin, VP of the Phra Khanong-based Modern Montessori International School (MMI) in Bangkok says that TCK’s who experience the Montessori education in their early years become more adapted than even first-culture children to continue on with traditional education after their Kindergarten years.
“Montessori rejects traditional education and instead trains the learners how to take information and make it useful for them; instead of injecting them with information just to pass a test,” Grondin said. “It’s appropriating the information so that they discover a love of learning and become confident that they can eventually solve any problem.”
This confidence, in turn sets the children up to take on their first year of primary school with ease.
The somewhat abstract philosophy behind the Montessori Method can be difficult to comprehend for those who have only ever been exposed to traditional K-level learning (lessons in singing the alphabet song or repetitive tracing of letters and numbers). For example, Montessori does not teach the alphabet, but only phonics. It does not teach tracing but instead practices using a strong pencil grip and deliberate drawing. The method does tend to be an extremely well-received concept however, for parents who are educated in psychology or biology, or have the time to attend a Montessori seminar themselves.
Not convinced? Check it out yourself
The MMI School offers free seminars and workshop three times per year, once at the end of each trimester, to parents who are interested in learning more about the Montessori Method. This is a service that Grondin says is always in high-demand, as parents are fascinated at how this school has managed to make such a difference in their child’s development. Children may finish a semester knowing not only how to read, but how to interrupt their parents’ conversation politely. Seemingly suddenly, they can dress themselves and pour a glass of milk with greater ease than their parents expected at their age. Coloring books are outgrown as the child now prefers freeform drawing. On top of all this, they have friends from many backgrounds and can even speak some Thai as a direct result of their culture class.
“We believe it’s important for the parents to be as involved as possible,” Grondin said. “We wouldn’t tell the parents that they must practice the Montessori Method at home, but we do want them to understand and appreciate how it works and why it is successful.”
For those who are especially interested in learning more about, or even teaching the Montessori Method themselves (stay-at-home parents or future educators are common students), MMI also offers a one-year, internationally-recognized diploma course. From September to August, adult students will learn about the philosophy and methodology behind the Montessori Method and how it applies to teaching language, mathematics, cultural subjects and life skills.
For TCKs, establishing solid foundations for learning in their later life is truly a service that will allow them to understand their reality; to see the world the way it actually is, and to tackle any obstacles that come with living wherever they may find themselves.
Contact Modern Montessori International or schedule a visit: 02-712-0958-9 / www.mmithailand.com
