I suggest we redouble our efforts to have even small children talk to God.
From pre-school though 9th grade I was in the Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh. Despite being a native Hebrew speaker I did not master siddur and faked, as my older friend Larry showed me how - bow, count to 11, bow, count to 43, bow, 11, bow, wait a minute, and shimmy back and bow all around. I visited the Kotel in the beginning of 6th grade and said every word of mincha for the very first time. However, that tefilla itself was important, and that we were talking to God, the kavod of tefilla, was set in school. When the school visited Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland and I heard hundreds of people saying Shma together out loud, it registered on the background of school prayers.
The rabbis treated tefilla seriously. Mincha was before dismissal to the buses, we focused on prayers after all classes were done, and then we dispersed. When we were older this was the mark that we had indeed advanced, as we were staying after mincha. It was quiet during prayers, morning and afternoon. The rabbis and teachers were all there, moving around the room, encouraging participation, and enforcing quiet when necessary. Rabbi Benjamin Nadoff's quiet serenity and seriousness, and love, stands out in my mind.
As much as possible were given the opportunity to participate in little ways and big. Some years we even had our own school minyan in the school, shared the leining, and again were joined by the teachers, most notably Rabbi Harry Rottenberg of blessed memory.
Related- As small children we lined up in the morning and each brought a coin to put in tzedaka. When I earned $10, this enabled me to give $1. I remember the challenge in 7th or 8th grade when I earned $100 to give $10, but the pennies made it possible.
On a similar note, since school had a few days of Chanukah together, and of Sukkot with lunch in the school sukka, I learned about these mitzvot. I understand some schools in Israel and in the Diaspora are considering phasing these out and having total vacation then. What a tragedy. It forged bonds with each other as a society, the holidays, and our identity that cannot be replaced.
I would just add that modern children who may not need anything financially could still learn they have their own relationship with God who loves them and wants to hear from them and share their lives.
