Its difficult to believe, based on experience, that many of these children asked to be taken to Mass. The fruit does not fall far from the tree.
It's been my experience that as younger kids, curious about the Mass and filled with love for Jesus and enthusiasm, they ask to be taken. At least that's what they say in class, and it's clear that many are quite sincere. They are excited when we attend Mass as a group and have many questions. They are excited to go and humble and sincere in prayer. But it's easy to see, what a mere 3 yrs does, seeing the 5th graders, that they are much less excited. Now, differences in age group aside, it's easy to see how a lax attitude at home does rub off on the children. Yet it's clear that some do retain that love and still look forward to going, regardless of the parents habits. Years of parents just refusing to take them clearly impresses upon them a number of things, the importance of Mass and the sacraments, the value of faith and the enthusiastic requests of the kids and which Sunday activities are valued. It's always very disheartening every year to see 2nd graders who want to go relate disappointedly how they 'didn't get to go' to Mass for Christmas or Easter, let alone 'regular' Sundays.