Ideas for a Child's Sock Hop Party

Sock hops are a blast from the past for all the guests who attend. When planning a sock hop party for your child, incorporate ideas from the '50s to create a memorable party for the guest of honor and all her friends. From the invitations to the activities, get the party started with a few ideas and supplies from your local craft store.

Invitations

For a simple invitation, print pictures of socks or cut sock shapes out of construction paper. Write the party details on the socks and mail them to your guests. Ask the guests to wear their craziest pair of socks to the party. Other invitation ideas include a picture of a soda shop or drive-in movie theater. For added decoration, add a cheer pompom or a package of popular candy from the '50s to the invitations and hand-deliver or mail them in padded envelopes. A few candy ideas include Bottlecaps, candy buttons and wax bottles.

Decorations

Cover the party tables with red and white gingham tablecloths and pretend jukeboxes. Hang posters of singers from the '50s, record players and '50s-style cars. Sock hop tableware and decorations --which features pictures of records, jukeboxes, old cars and ice cream sundaes -- are available at most party supply stores and online. Hang plastic records and pictures of ice cream floats on the walls. Make a large balloon arch to go over the party table and smaller arches to go in the doorways. Play '50s music by artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry in the background.

Contests

Allow each guest to show off her socks in a craziest-socks contest. Select three adult judges to determine the best, funniest and craziest socks. Award small prizes such as sock hop-themed stickers or a pair of crazy socks to the winners. For another contest, give each guest a sheet of paper and have her draw and design a pair of crazy socks. Allow the party guests to vote on the best, most creative and craziest socks. For an active contest, host a dance competition in which guests dance to the '50s music.Judge children for the best and most creative dance moves, or have a freeze contest. Play music, and when the music stops, the players must freeze. Any player caught moving is out of the game, and the last player remaining wins the game.

Games

Try a funny sock game by dividing the children into two teams. Mark a starting line and a run-to line 15 feet apart. At the run-to line, place a large basket of crazy socks. Give the first player in each team line a large pair of work gloves to wear on their hands. The players must run to the basket and find a matching pair of socks. They must put the socks on their feet with their gloved hands. After they get the socks on, they must run back and hand the next player in line the gloves. Each player must do the same thing. The first team to finish the relay wins the game. Twister and limbo are other good games to play.