Building Identity and Belonging in Multicultural Gifted Kids

When raising multicultural gifted children, one of the greatest gifts we can give them is a sense of belonging—not just to a culture, but to themselves.

There are so many ways to help children connect with different cultures: through books, music, food, and conversations. But more importantly, we should help them build respect for all cultures. I often recommend the TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It’s a powerful reminder of why we need to expose our children to more than just one narrative.

Cultural identity is important, but it’s not everything. Our children can also find identity in being part of a sports team, a robotics club, or a local community. For gifted kids, their giftedness itself can become part of their identity—a source of strength and resilience.

I once supported an Asian mom whose son had just moved to the U.S. She was concerned that he wasn’t athletic like his peers. But I noticed he was highly gifted in STEM and encouraged him to join a robotics team. That one choice helped him connect with others, build confidence, and find his place in a new world.

As parents, we can also support our kids emotionally. Talk about feelings. Share your own. Name emotions together. This creates a safe space where children—especially those with layered identities—can explore who they are.

At the end of the day, identity isn’t something we hand to our children. It’s something they create, with our love and guidance. We can’t decide who they’ll become, but we can help them feel safe, seen, and supported along the way.