Do You Know Reeko?

Ask any child surfing the Internet who's the Mad Scientist and I know exactly where you'll be taken -- at Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab. There are many resources available to get information on activities to do with your preschooler and Reeko's site scores high on the list.

Reeko (know to some as Brian Haddock) has dedicated the past four years building a site for parents where along with their children can spend time together and discovering the topic of science. What would make a man create such as successful site?

Being a father of two boys (5 years-old and 8 years-old), he wanted to develop his passion of science within his sons. He's a computer programmer/analyst/Webmaster and decided to create a site that parents and children could share together.

"The entire site is inspired by my children," says Reeko. "But probably not how you think. I feel very lucky - I have a good job, good health, and a fantastic family. It just kind of feels like I should give something back."

Reeko's site is easy to go through and select different experiments based on the child's level. They're categorized as easy, medium, advanced.

"Read through the entire experiment first," says Reeko. "Laugh at the jokes (even if only to be polite), then discuss the experiment with your child. Do they think this experiment would be fun? Then just jump right in."

Do any experiment by first collecting the materials needed and checking out how long you have to wait to find results from your experiment. When making an experiment it's important to know that sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. If that's the case try the experiment later on another day. Ask your child lots of questions and get their brain into deductive reasoning mode. What happens if...?

When getting your materials together DON'T forget to have a fire extinguisher, a whistle, a phone, some Band-Aids, safety glasses and a first-aid kit. Although you won't be creating some really scientific and dangerous experiments; start on the right foot and be prepared!

"Sometimes I receive email from kids who comment on how much they hate school," says Reeko. "But that they continue coming back to Reeko's Lab, even over the weekends. I can't say why that kid hates school but I can guarantee you that if that kid goes through 12 years of hating school, chances are they aren't going to get very far in their adult life. What better way to contribute and 'give back' than to encourage a child to learn by showing them that science, and education in general, can be fun."

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