I agree. Another failure mode is that of my sister in law. She spent ten years throwing pens, pencils, paper, Lego, books, all in the bin because they make a mess.

Everything creative was an inconvenience.

Her eldest is in and out of prison. Her daughter was pregnant at 14. Her youngest is violent and has already got a social worker.

If every creative or intellectual outlet is taken away from someone or they are demotivated, what is left?

It makes me sad when I hear of parents prescribing anything negative.