My grandchildren are four and nine years of age but have always known how to get the most out of religious holidays.   As far as I know, their religious knowledge comes from school.  Their parents have two or three religious heritages but do not affiliate themselves with organized religion.  

  Their great grandmother was very surprised when she invited the family to a seder and the children were actually excited to go.  The four year old seemed to know all about it; the food, the significance and even the service.  I rememher when the nine year old was four and wanted to have Hanukkah rather than Xmas.  She was focused on getting a dreidel and also taken with the idea of getting presents every day.  She knew the dreidal song and all about the candles.  I felt very strange providing a Xmas tree.  She took it in her stride.  Xmas tree and candles and dreidals and Hannakkah  and Xmas .  She wanted it all.  It was not that she was saying 'no' to Xmas but yes to everything.

   Right now, Clara, the nine year old, is consumed with reading about the Greek gods.  I don't know if this means she will go pagen and start having ritual sacrifices, which I hope don't involve her younger sister.   I have a feeling it will be white robes and gold jewelry. Wait until she gets hold of the idea of offerings.  Then we'll all be in trouble.  

 I can't get too obsessed with the idea that they may have missed the point of religious experience.  I think they are getting the information they need and can make their own decisions when they get older.  For now they have taken on the zeitgeist.  They are surrounded by many religions at school and have inherited genes from many religions and cultures.  I only hope the world they grow up in learns to embrace multi religions and cultures and to treasure what is most valuable in all of them.