“Children are much less afraid to take risks than adults, especially in public”
Aron Lazarus – “I’ve loved solving puzzles my whole life, though I’ve never thought of it as anything more than a hobby. I began to understand their true value while working for a UK company that used puzzles to teach group-work and thinking skills to school children.
I have many years of experience as a social worker, teacher, and youth worker, and the most striking thing for me was the ability of the puzzles to build a child’s self-esteem, confidence and their perceptions of their own abilities.
Since making Aliyah from London in 2006, I have worked predominantly with overseas students on gap year programs, in a number of different roles.
I decided that I wanted to create something truly unique that would combine my three great passions: puzzles, working with people and my love for Israel. In 2014, I finally fulfilled my dream and created Puzzle Time Israel – a completely new, fun and creative way for people to engage with Israel.
Our programs use hands-on physical puzzles that enable adults and children of all ages to interact and work together, while learning to think in new and creative ways. Our puzzles also tell a story: the story of the Land Of Israel. They are carefully designed to unlock minds and hearts, and to introduce participants to the incredible history, mystery, and beauty that exist in this extraordinary country.
The true beauty of this concept is in its ability to bring together people of all ages to learn and play together, as complete equals. I will always remember the shock on the face of one father who saw his 6 year old child solve a puzzle that he had not been able to solve himself.
Actually that sort of thing happens more often than you’d think. Children are much less afraid to take risks than adults, especially in public. When faced with a tough puzzle, kids are willing to try things out and see what happens, whereas adults don’t like to have a go at something unless they feel certain they’ll succeed. And that’s why we regularly see the grown-ups out-puzzled by their kids!”
