Because the ESRB would rip bethesda a new one for being able to murder children.
Exactly.
On topic: Meh, makes sense to have children since it was kind of strange that there were none around in TES games. Where did the people come from?!?!?!
I agree, however without the option to have families (don't get me wrong, I'm against families in TES), it seems a little odd that they ARE there, and in that, they probably wont play a big role in the game.
Then again, it may work out well and increase immersion. Who knows. Though it seems a little ironic that Skyrim, the BRUTAL land of the Nords, that's the game they implement children in.