child-free environment?

No and no, but it would be yes and yes.

I remember 20 years ago a friends spoiled kid throwing a GI Joe through the dust covers of my Quads when told that he was not allowed in the "nook" off of the living area of that home. As it is, if I am ever blessed with children I will gladly allow them to use it as my father did with me. His love for music and the appreciation of it reproduced well is why I am in this hobby in the first place. I would be honored to bestow that upon a child, even if it meant the inevitable damage that occurs with kids and pets. The funny part is, now that he is older, I am the administrator of his system, and I fear the damage he will do.

4est- loved your post....

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).