child-free environment?

Yes and Yes… We’ve got five granddaughters between the ages of 2 and 7… and a big black dog. When they were too young to understand, we simply fenced off the equipment. They learned to respect the equipment and other fine art as “breakable”, which was the magic word that cautioned them to “look but not touch”. Our dog vicariously learned to respect the equipment because whenever one of her soft cotton toys lands too close to the equipment, she makes me retrieve it.

You’re a lucky guy with two sets of twins. Our granddaughter twins stand in front of the speakers, one on the right and the other on the left, to listen to the music.
nd Yes... We've got five granddaughters

My kids are fully grown (27, 25) and moved out when they went away to college (never came back - except to visit). When they were growing up I had music in most every room. Formal family dinners in the dining room included music playing on the dining room system (still do). My primary music system set up in a formal living room, and the other systems were budget or old stuff. I never had a problem with the kids pushing in dust covers or tweeter domes, nor did they try to handle my vinyl/turntable. I don't recall having to give them any admonition either. When they were teens I bought them each their own bedroom system which they still have today. Their systems are cheap Best Buy setups, so they didn't inherit my passion for hifi. They're happy with their ipods . . . .

The worst damage to any of my equipment was the result of my wife using one of my speakers as a plant stand and leaving a water stain on the veneer (ever seen an Infinity Monitor speaker - they make great plant stands!).

It's great to hear how everyone relates the way they approach kids to their own childhood exposures to music and hi-fi. I grew up with one of those record players with built-in speakers, about the size of a coffin. I can remember putting the Chuck Mangione and Gordon Lightfoot records on from the time I was tall enough to lift open the lid. Getting the needle in just the right place for my favorite song. Making sure not to scratch the record. Those are some great memories. Time to go out and buy a turntable! My parents still have all the vinyl I grew up with. Any turntable recommendations to match my system (see system link).

My 2 children are now grown and 27 yo and 24 yo. My 24 year old daughter called me yesterday from Washington DC where she works and lives in a 400 sq foot apartment. Last year I gave her my old PSB Stratus Bronzes with a new Marantz integrated and a Marantz CD player. She called just to thank me again for the system and for teaching her about the beauty of listening to classical music. She was at the time listening to Bach's Goldberg Variations and Von Williams Lark Ascending and Mosaic, a Stereophile recording of a Mozart clarinet qunitet. She also uses an Ipod with rock but loves to listen to the music with real speakers. My son could care less about the music but is a movie enthusiast. One out of two allowing the music to penetrate their souls is not bad. My advice is to forget the gear and encourage the kids to listen. My children always had access to the gear. A plus for buget systems.
John

yes and no. My 7 year old son has no interest in listening to my system and he has been good about not touching it since he knows he's not allowed.