Holden identifies childhood with innocence. It is the only time when the corruption and 'phoniness', somewhat inherent in adulthood, are absent. Children are happy and mad for all the right reasons...
Holden talks endlessly about his younger siblings. In fact they are the only characters in the book (along with Jane, who we'll get to later) who he never equates with phoniness. And I think the lack of negative qualities has very little to do with the characters themselves but the negative connotations Holden Associates with adolescence and adulthood.
We could place symbolic meaning upon Allie and Phoebe. Allie could be innocence lost - symbolically through his death - I think that kind of speaks to the inevitability of corruption and perversion in the course of human life. Allie was never really exposed to either of these things but he still inevitably succumbed to death... This is a difficult point to articulate precisely.
Phoebe could be the remaining bastion of innocence - something Holden can hold onto - the idea that there are still good, genuine and pure things in the world. A kind of all hope is not lost sort of thing.
And then there's Jane, who I believe falls into this same category, despite her age. Holden's thoughts regarding her are limited to the past, where she was an object of innocent affection, very different from the perverted, sexual relationships he perceives and expects now. I think Holden cuts off his repeated attempts to contact Jane because he does not want to acknowledge the fact that she might have changed.
And finally there is the museum. "Some things you ought to be able to put in a box". Innocence, purity, and the ignorant freedom of childhood.
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