Young children enjoy physical activities like dancing to music.
Sock hops were a style of dance party popular in the United States in the 1950s. The events featured popular music of the day with upbeat tempos. Preschoolers can enjoy a sock hop of their own, dancing to songs from the era and dressing in period-appropriate costumes. The event will encourage physical exercise and teach the children about how people in other eras celebrated.
Venue
A preschool, family home or rented room in a restaurant that provides privacy are possibilities for a sock hop location. The children can participate in making decorations to allow them to feel they are part of the planning for the event. Decorations can include cutouts of 45s on black construction paper, with holes punched in the middle of each record and the name of a '50s artist written around the hole. Cutout construction paper music notes also provide a festive atmosphere when hung from the ceiling or attached to the walls.
Costumes
Poodle skirts or close-fit pants, belted sweaters and saddle shoes can be worn by girls. Boys can dress in snug jeans, T-shirts with rolled-up sleeves, leather or faux leather jackets and hair that is slicked back with water or hair gel. This mimics the look of "Grease," a 1950s musical from the sock-hop era. Adaptations may be made to clothing that the children already own to defray costs, such as temporarily pinning a cloth cutout of a poodle onto a girl's skirt. During a portion of the sock hop, allow children to model their outfits for their peers.
Music
Rent a jukebox if possible for the sock hop. For a less expensive option, load royalty-free songs from the mid-1950s onto a portable music player and attach speakers. If the jukebox or music player are filled only with songs from the '50s, allow each child to choose a song to be played. This exercise helps give children a sense of accomplishment, as any song they pick will be an acceptable one.
Food
If your preschool decides to serve refreshments at the sock hop, ice cream sundaes fit the theme. Small plastic serving cups with plastic, child-size spoons will give the children an appropriate-size treat. Brightly colored punch makes a refreshing drink.
Entertainment
After the children have danced to the sock hop music and had refreshments, they can be seated for some time to wind down and view a movie. Use colored electrical or duct tape to draw rectangles on the floor in which children can sit and mimic being at a drive-in theater. Any age-appropriate movie with an upbeat musical score would work at a sock hop, but if possible show a movie from the 1950s.
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