in matthew 19:14 jesus speaks about children suffering to come unto heaven. john 21:15 hints at them in reference to the lambs(arnion)
is the inner child somewhat like the paramatman in the two birds analogy of the Mundaka Upanishad 1.3.1-3 and Katha Upanishad 1.3.1
the realization that one is brahman, or that exodus 3:14 because the spirit of self is one and the same as the Spirit of God?
"...but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
As per Hindu psychology, the enlightened sage and child is similar to each other in that they are not under the influence of vasanas or unconscious psychological impressions.
It is the vasanas that leads to intense desires or cravings/aversions and resultant vices like lust, greed, ego, hatred, inordinate attachment/addiction. All crimes can be traced to these vices. There are good vasanas as well, known as samskars such as the desire to do good, be good and so on.
These vasanas or psychological impressions are there within every unenlightened human being,and upon appropriate external or internal stimulus, sprouts out. Both bad and good vasanas as well are considered bondages. By spiritual practices one gets rid of these vasanas, and be free of their influence resulting in enlightenment.
In the child, these vasanas are submerged in the unconscious and do not find expression, till they grow and mature physically.
It is impossible to see a little child harbouring greed for money or power or pride and so on, and this is why they are often equated with sages, and their innocent nature is considered as a worthy example.
This could be the reason why Jesus had a fondness for children and set them as an example.