Let’s chat for a minute about what happens while the State of the Union airs. Maybe you have bad memories of growing up and all your favorite TV shows were delayed. It was tragic! But now you’re an adult. And you know that even if you don’t agree with whoever the president is, it’s still one of his most important speeches of the year. So, do you watch it? Do your kids watch it? Or are you still harboring feelings of annoyance?
If we’re being completely honest here, the State of the Union can get quite lengthy and snooze-worthy–even if you’re a political or news junkie. So trying to make your kids (and even yourself) watch it and actually pay attention is a tall order. Never fear. It’s time for some fun!
State of the Union Bingo!
This little gem pictured above is a State of the Union Bingo card. Ever heard of State of the Union Bingo? No? We hadn’t either but it sounded like a good idea, so we decided to make it happen. Click here to get started.
It’s just like normal Bingo. You know the rules. To liven things up, we’ve thrown in some key words we think President Biden might use during his address. Words like “Ukraine” and “immigration” and “debt ceiling.”
If you haven’t already, get your Bingo cards. Print them off for your family and turn the State of the Union into a little game night. Or, if you’d rather, you can play virtual Bingo. Maybe this will make watching the State of the Union fun . . . or at least get you and your kids to pay attention. If you want to be really patriotic, you can use red, white, and blue candies as your Bingo chips. Perhaps the night’s winner will be treated to ice cream (reportedly one of the president’s favorite foods) or a juicy burger (also reportedly a Biden favorite).
Of course, everyone knows the best game nights also include good eats. So check out our presidential recipes to whip up some festive appetizers while you are enjoying your new favorite way to watch the State of the Union!
Why It Matters
As the president addresses Congress and lays out his agenda for the year, sure State of the Union Bingo is a fun way to keep things interesting. But, it’s also meant to keep you listening. Perhaps the president’s agenda for the coming year doesn’t really matter to you. But for many people, his agenda will affect them significantly.
Knowing that although a certain issue may not affect you but it will affect someone else is something our children need to know. Plus, what goes across the president’s desk will most likely affect every American at some time or another. Our nation is made up of people from all walks of life. Our children need to know that they matter as an individual but that they’re also part of something bigger. They are one piece of a big wide world and those various issues discussed in the State of the Union can connect all of us.
The last point I want to make is a big one. In an era where our leaders aren’t as respected as they used to be (thanks to social media and less than quality journalism), it would sure be nice to have an event or two that still demands our attention and respect. So, let’s teach our kids that sometimes paying attention to our nation’s leaders is important, even if we don’t always agree with their decisions–and even if we do it in a fun way.
Fun Tidbits
Did you know the State of the Union is actually a constitutional mandate (Article II, Section 3, Clause I)? It states that the president must address Congress from “time to time” (annually, in this case) on the current condition of our nation. The Speaker of the House sends a formal invitation to the president every year to speak to Congress. When the president shows up, the Sergeants at Arms will announce him and thus will begin an evening you’ll need to settle in for. This little video is quite entertaining and gives more details about the particulars.
FYI, George Washington gave the first State of the Union Address to Congress. In person. Then Thomas Jefferson came along and changed that for awhile. Old TJ, who didn’t like public speaking but was quite talented at the written word, decided that a written state of our union was good enough. That tradition stuck all the way until Woodrow Wilson in 1913. And now not giving a live televised address is unthinkable.
How is the State of the Union written? My former boss at the White House wrote a good “behind the scenes” look here.
Finally, here’s a fun article about 10 Memorable Moments from past SOTU addresses. President Reagan’s “moment” is my favorite. I think presidents should use props more often, don’t you?
