The problem with that article, as with most of the "X is bad for kids, because Y is better" ones I've ever read, is that the two things aren't in any way exclus

The problem with that article, as with most of the "X is bad for kids, because Y is better" ones I've ever read, is that the two things aren't in any way exclusive. The article explains why giving kids a blank sheet of paper and a crayon is good. But as it's entirely possible to let them spend some time doing freehand and some time just colouring in, it's irrelevant whether blank sheets are good. The question is whether the time spent colouring is in itself bad.