Second guessing third culture

Yet, while TCKs' identity and belonging issues are studied by experts and produce specialized therapists, they're flip sides to such rewards as multilingualism, multiculturalism and adaptability.

And problems can be overcome.

"The benefits of raising a kid in a foreign country far outweigh the disadvantages," Beijing United Family Hospital's psychological health center director Robert Blinn says.

"There can be a confusion in self-identity. And kids often ask the question: 'Who am I?' Children growing up in China for the most part face the same obstacles as other third-culture kids growing up in any country."

Five-year-old Pedro Roldao's Portuguese parents say multilingual proficiencies and multiculturalism have come without identity confusion. The boy, who has lived in China since he was 6 months old, speaks fluent Chinese, Portuguese and English.

"Chinese is such a difficult language to learn when you're a grown-up. Being able to learn Chinese at such young age is certainly an advantage," his mother Ana Magalhaes says.

"Most kids his age raised in our home country only speak their mother tongue. Our son is exposed to such unique, rich and diverse experiences that'd be impossible back home. He knows a lot of countries and flags because he associates each country and flag with his own friends.