I think you're onto something here. It always amazes me how my kids are ready to apply creative solutions to problems that don't exist instead of just going with the flow. I find myself saying "Ya know, if you just did that the way you're suppposed to it might just work." "Ya know, if you used that thing the way it's intended it would probably make things easier." etc. etc. etc. It's almost as if they don't think they're smart unless they invent/create/discover EVERYTHING on their own.