Is holding hands and forming a circle around the altar during eucharistic prayer allowed?

We have a new priest in our parish who does things differently. Today in Mass he invited all children to form a **circle around the altar with him and hold hands**. I know that some priests do this while the Lord's Prayer but he did this during the whole eucharistic prayer. This action is really new to me and seems very unreasonable and unworthy towards the Holy Eucharist. So my question is: Does the Canon Law allow this? Sorry for my poor English. Please feel free to ask if something is unclear.