Why is the First Eucharist so important for children?

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Catholic AnswerThe First Holy Communion is a huge day in any person's life. Many people remember their First Holy Communion long into their old age, a very famous Catholic, or perhaps "infamous" was Napolean who in his older years mentioned that, of his entire life, the high point was the day of his First Holy Communion. This is the day on which a child receives Our Blessed Lord, Body and Soul, Humanity and Divinity, into themselves. Our Blessed Lord is finally joined with one whom He loves above all others - a child.

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from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

1244 First Holy Communion. Having become a child of God clothed with the wedding garment, the neophyte is admitted "to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev 19:9) and receives the food of the new life, the body and blood of Christ. The Eastern Churches maintain a lively awareness of the unity of Christian initiation by giving Holy Communion to all the newly baptized and confirmed, even little children, recalling the Lord's Words: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them." (Mk 10:14) the Latin Church, which reserves admission to Holy Communion to those who have attained the age of reason, expresses the orientation of Baptism to the Eucharist by having the newly baptized child brought to the altar for the praying of the Our Father.