What is acculturation?

Acculturation is when people start to change how they live because they're around other people who have different traditions and ways of life.

Imagine you’re playing in your favorite park with your friends. Then one day, a group of kids from another neighborhood joins in, they bring new games, new snacks, and even different rules for playing tag. At first, it’s strange, but soon you start trying their games too, and maybe you even learn to like their snacks. Over time, you find yourself mixing your old ways with the new ones. That's acculturation in action, like a fun, friendly exchange between groups of people.

Think of it as having two favorite toys. At first, you only play with one, but then you get to know the other toy too. You might even start playing with both together! That’s how acculturation feels, like learning new ways to do things while still remembering your old ones.