Hula hoop facts for kids
“A girl twirling a Hula hoop, 1958”
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| Type | toy |
|---|---|
| Company | various |
| Country | various |
| Availability | Ancient times–present |
| Materials | various |
A hula hoop is a toy shaped like a ring that you spin around your body. You can twirl it around your waist, arms, legs, or even your neck! People have used hoops for fun for thousands of years, going back to at least 500 BC.
The hula hoop we know today, made of plastic, became super popular in 1958. This happened thanks to the Wham-O toy company. It quickly became a huge fad (something that is very popular for a short time).
Hula hoops for kids are usually about 70 centimetres (28 in) wide. Hoops for adults are bigger, around 100 centimetres (39 in) wide. Long ago, hoops were made from things like willow branches, rattan (a strong vine), or stiff grasses. Today, most store-bought hoops are made from plastic tubing.
Contents
Ancient History of Hoops
People have used hoops for a very long time. In ancient Greece, children and adults played with hoops. They would roll them with sticks or spin them around their bodies.
Native American tribes have a special Hoop Dance. This dance tells stories using many hoops. Dancers create shapes with the hoops that look like animals or symbols. It's a beautiful way to share their culture and history.
For thousands of years, hoops were made from natural materials. These included dried willow, rattan, or grapevines. Many people think hula hoops were invented in the 1950s, but they are much older!
In the 14th century, people in England also loved playing with wooden and metal hoops. The name "hula" came much later, in the 18th century. It was named after the Hawaiian dance called hula, because the hip movements used to spin the hoop were similar.
The Modern Hula Hoop Craze
The hula hoop became famous worldwide in the late 1950s. This happened when the Wham-O toy company in California started selling a plastic version.
The idea for the plastic hula hoop came from Australia. In 1957, children there were playing with bamboo hoops. A toy maker named Alex Tolmer then started making hoops from a new, stronger plastic called Polyethylene. These new plastic hoops were lighter and cheaper. Tolmer's company, Toltoys, sold hundreds of thousands of them in Australia.
Wham-O learned about these popular hoops. In 1958, Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin from Wham-O made their own plastic hoops. They were about 110 cm (42 in) wide. Wham-O started advertising their "Hula-Hoop" in June 1958.
The hula hoop quickly became a huge hit! Wham-O sold 25 million plastic hoops in less than four months. In just two years, they sold over 100 million hoops! The hula hoop was so popular that it was added to the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Hooping as a Fun Activity
After the big craze in the 1950s, hula hooping became less common for a while. But in the 1990s, it started to become popular again! This new way of hooping is often called "hoopdance" or just "hooping."
Many modern hoopers make their own hoops. They use different types of plastic tubing, like PVC piping or polypropylene. These hoops are often larger and heavier than the old ones. The size and weight of a hoop can change how you use it. Heavier, bigger hoops are good for beginners. Lighter, thinner hoops are better for quick tricks with your hands.
Hoopers often decorate their hoops with colorful tape. Some hoops even have LED lights inside, making them glow in the dark! There are also "Smart Hoops" that you can control with a phone app to create special light effects.
Modern hooping includes many cool tricks. You can do "on-body" moves, where the hoop stays on your body. You can also do "off-body" moves, where the hoop moves away from you. Some tricks include "breaks," "isolations," and "double hooping" (using two hoops at once).
Hooping is also a great way to stay fit! Many cities around the world now have hooping classes. Some people even use special weighted hula hoops for exercise. These hoops can weigh between 1.5 and 8 pounds.
There are also "fire hoops" used by trained performers. These hoops have special wicks that can be lit on fire. Remember, fire hooping should only be done by experienced adults in a safe environment!
Collapsible hula hoops are also available. These hoops can be folded down, making them easy to carry and travel with.
Images for kids
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A girl twirling a Hula hoop, 1958
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A street performer balancing a guitar and hula hoop in Seattle
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A boy hula hooping using his neck in Lusaka
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A performer with a fire hula hoop
See also
In Spanish: Hula hoop para niños
