EKC Roundtable: Why Are Culturally Sensitive and Holistic Child Assessments Necessary?

Ahh autumn. As we head back to school, it’s exactly that season for settling in and figuring out how to best navigate the year ahead. This is especially the case for internationally mobile families, those who moved over the summer months. Almost 41% of all moves happen from May through August, which makes good sense. It’s ideal that kids move before school starts so they’re not disrupted halfway through term. 

As they walk new hallways and meet new teachers and make new friends, it’s also the time of year where you might start noticing emotional, social, or academic struggles. Assessments are the best way to open understanding and support. But for Third Culture Kids (TCKs), traditional assessment methods can sometimes miss the mark. Behaviors that seem concerning in one setting might make perfect sense in another. That’s where holistic and culturally sensitive assessments come in. 

At this month’s EKC Roundtable, our team of clinicians discussed context, and why it matters so much when supporting expat children. Let’s talk about how a thoughtful approach leads to clearer insights so your child can find the help they need. 

How Does Culture Shape Behavior?

Culture is ever-changing, shaped by and shaping our environments, and one of the most crucial factors in understanding behavioral context. 

Adam opened up the meeting by mentioning that something as simple as eye contact can be interpreted in vastly different ways. In many western classrooms, steady eye contact is encouraged as a sign of confidence. But in other cultures, lowering your gaze shows humility and respect. A child who avoids eye contact in an international school may not be anxious or “defiant” at all. They might just be showing the manners they’ve been taught at home. 

Clinical research supports this. Children’s behavior is often misinterpreted when the assessment has been devised by evaluators from a different cultural background. A child’s hesitance to speak up in class might be flagged as social anxiety in one context, but praised as modesty or restraint in another. 

In practice, culturally sensitive and holistic psychologists go beyond the checklist. International school child support requires this flexibility. When a teacher worries that a student “never contributes to discussion,” a clinician who understands cultural expectations sees why. It’s not necessarily a delay in social confidence; it might just be a cultural difference. 

Looking Beyond the Behavior

Kate brought up an important point: behaviors should never be read in isolation. 

A rigid adherence to routines, for example, might be described as inflexibility. But for a TCK who’s recently moved countries, routines might be one of the only reliable sources of comfort and stability. In this light, what looks like a “problem” is, instead, an entirely understandable coping strategy. 

This perspective comes from a holistic view of functioning: instead of asking, “what’s wrong with this child?” we ask “What role is this behavior serving?” When children feel their behaviors are understood within the larger context of their transitions, they’re more open to discussing them. They’re also more receptive to strategies for adapting. 

For parents, this can mean paying attention not only to what their child does, but when and why. Does your child become more rigid about bedtime in the weeks before a move? Recognizing the timing can turn a source of frustration into an open door for empathy and support. 

High Mobility, Unique Needs

Jamie pointed out that the transient nature of TCK life means assessments must account for circumstances that most standard tools don’t anticipate. 

A recommendation to join a local after-school group might not be realistic if the family expects to move again in six months. Similarly, a teacher’s concerns about “falling behind” in reading may need to be balanced with the fact that the child has had to adjust to three different curricula in two years. 

This is where tailored recommendations really shine. Instead of suggesting long-term expat kids therapy in one location, a clinician might recommend telehealth therapy sessions that can continue across borders. This offers continuity of care and a stable anchoring point no matter where the child lands. 

Rather than only focusing on gaps in learning, culturally aware assessors can help find strategies for managing transitions between systems. This can include methods as simple as building a “learning binder” to carry from one school to the next, and as complex as developing long-term social coping strategies. 

Interventions are more effective when they focus on adaptability and continuity rather than fixed outcomes. Assessments should include recommendations that travel as easily as families themselves. 

A Process of Self-Understanding

Inka reminded us that the assessment process isn’t only diagnostic, it’s also formative. When a child learns to not only identify their challenges but why they keep coming up, it can help transform their self-image. Instead of feeling “broken” for struggling with spelling, they can come to understand that their frequent moves have meant a lot of disruption and different teaching styles. It makes sense that it’s harder for them, and they can catch up with support. 

When kids are offered this kind of explanation, it’s often a big relief. As Kate mentioned, behavior and challenges don’t exist in a vacuum—there needs to be context for understanding. Everything’s part of a broader pattern of adjustment, rather than evidence of personal failure. 

For families, this means that the assessment itself becomes an intervention. There’s more clarity, less guilt, and a path forward: a way to bounce back and build resilience while doing so. It’s a shift from “how do we stop this?” to “how do we support this?” 

Cultural Differences Within Families

Jackie brought up the fact that cultural layers exist not just between families and professionals, but within families themselves. Parents might bring an entirely different perspective to questionnaires depending on their own upbringing. A father raised in a culture that values assertiveness might describe his son as “too quiet.” The child’s mother, from a culture that prizes restraint, might see the same behavior as maturity. 

This tension can become even more complex and pronounced when the parents are from different cultural backgrounds and their child identifies with neither. Many TCKs report feeling most connected to a place where they don’t hold citizenship. This can leave them feeling misunderstood, even at home. 

Adam added that neurodivergence brings another layer. A parent with ADHD might see their child’s restlessness as normal, while another parent views it as disruptive. These differing perceptions aren’t just noise; they’re important data points that shape the assessment and recommendations that follow. 

It can help to talk openly with your family about these differences before the assessment begins. Sharing how you both interpret your child’s behavior allows the psychologist to understand the full range of perspectives and avoid misinterpretation. Even if you have wildly different opinions, everyone’s on the same side—and ready to help your kids find the support they need. 

Timing Is Key

Jackie also brought up our final point: while assessments can be incredibly valuable, timing is everything. If your family’s in the middle of an international move, an assessment might just feel like “one more demand” in an already overwhelming period. If that’s the case, the process might be more supportive if it takes place after your family’s settled in a little. Both you and your child will have more capacity to reflect.

This consideration reflects the broader principle of holistic care: the goal isn’t just to gather data, but to contribute positively to expat family mental health. An assessment given at the wrong time can feel like a burden instead of a turning point in understanding and support. 

This is really important because a culturally sensitive and holistic assessment is more than a diagnostic tool. A well-timed and carried out assessment is a way to provide not only answers but affirmation. For TCKs, who often live between cultures and identities, it tells them: your experience makes sense, and your story matters. 

Navigating a Change? EKC is Here to Help.

Expat Kids Club isn’t just for people who live abroad – it’s for anyone who identifies as a current or former expat and needs support, anywhere in the world. We also offer video consults and appointments so our clients can build a stable, trusting relationship with their therapist, no matter where life takes them.

We specialize in helping people navigate new experiences and situations from the universal to the unique. Our mission is to help kids, teens, and families build resiliency, discover their identities and values, and form healthy coping strategies to manage the tough moments. 

EKC recognizes the importance of treating the family as a unit, bringing everyone together. We work with an individual approach and a systemic mindset to determine the best through any challenge. 

Schedule a call today to speak with one of our therapists and see how we can help your family thrive.