The presence of the kids didn't bother me in either movie. I didn't feel they were part of the main plot; just side... side... I do have a few gripes about this movie, but hey, nothing's perfect.

I read that one of the kids, Phyla, is set to possibly become a major character. Apparently she was in one of the end scenes which I saw, but I somehow missed seeing her. I must have been too confused and shocked as to why the Guardians were attacking a herd of animals (after going through all that trouble to save the other animals)(as well as what were they doing on a desert planet all of a sudden), to notice her.