Show Your Child-Proofed Listening Space

[chguat]

So I've been noticing that 1) Almost everyone else's listening space is nicer than mine and 2) My kids would absolutely destroy most of your listening spaces. Seriously, my son would pull the tubes out of your SET amp before you even knew he was in the room.

I had to put locking doors on my record shelves because I came home one day to find my son sitting on my copy of Scott Walker Sings Jacques Brel. I was in a rush to get the doors on, so they're not aesthetically pleasing, but I feel the stencil adds a little something.

Anyway, most of my collection is in the locked cabinet, and the door to my room is blocked with a childproof gate (which my son can climb, hence the doors on the cabinet). I have my Marantz 2252B, Pioneer PL-115D, and a set of Philips bookshelf speakers inside the cabinet itself. Luckily my kids don't care about the speakers, so I have my Optimus 25's on the other side of my small room.

I wanted to see your child-proofed listening spaces because we might be moving soon and I'll definitely be looking for ideas. Also, I'd like to know that I'm not the only person on the forum who has to think seriously about keeping their kids from getting into the collection.

Here's the cabinet with the door closed

And here it is with the door open

 

[dnpainting]

Shouldn't that say "HOT"
Why don't you split the entryway door instead of using a child proof gate, put on a knob with a lock and just keep top half open. No little ones here so not necessary for me.

image downloaded:

 

[c-atle-79bay]

Stern actions. My 2.8 yo likes to stand in front of he speaker and look at music.

When that fails:

 

[ConradH]

Our whole house is child-proof- we don't have any and we keep the doors locked.

 

[240sx4u]

Old photo but;

Records were stored until he was about 1.5 years old, which was old enough to teach him not to touch. He's very good around my equipment at about 2.5 years old now and knows how to turn on the power amp to watch TV. The doors were held shut by strong magnets but they aren't needed anymore. He's not tall enough to reach my TT but he wants me to hold him up there sometimes to see it.

 

[chguat]

dnpainting - A split door is a pretty good idea. Maybe something I'll use when we move.

c-atle-79bay - My 18 month old enjoys watching the speakers as well. Speakers are the one thing he's interested in, but won't touch. Maybe he needs a good paddlin' to teach him not to touch daddy's records.

I guess I should be grateful that my kids enjoy my music, and that my son takes such an interest in my collections (he's always trying to get into my vintage video games as well). Someday I'll be able to just sit down and enjoy some of my favorite things with him, but that day is still a few years off.

 

[cfinchrist]

I always found that consistently and firmly saying NO, followed by hand slaps and culminating in spanking if necessary was very effective (started at an early age and perfectly consistent is a must). It was incredible...my kids learned what they were not supposed to screw around with; and they didn't screw around with it. Of course i also showed them love and played with them, but I never let them win when it came to something I said NO about.

So, thankfully we never had to childproof anything. In my opinion that is what we parents are here for. I could let my kid touch the red hot wood stove, or I could teach them not to touch it using the aforementioned method. I would rather teach them not to touch it and have the added bonus of them obediently listening to my instructions regarding other dangers in life.

that way they also don't grow up to be that screaming/demanding child in the grocery store embarrassing their exasperated parent. Children want/need boundaries and they need to learn that they are not the center of the universe. If noone in their lives enforces boundaries upon them, the police will when they get older.

 

[BOUXY]

I always found that consistently and firmly saying NO, followed by hand slaps and culminating in spanking if necessary was very effective (started at an early age and perfectly consistent is a must). It was incredible...my kids learned what they were not supposed to screw around with; and they didn't screw around with it. Of course i also showed them love and played with them, but I never let them win when it came to something I said NO about.

So, thankfully we never had to childproof anything. In my opinion that is what we parents are here for. I could let my kid touch the red hot wood stove, or I could teach them not to touch it using the aforementioned method. I would rather teach them not to touch it and have the added bonus of them obediently listening to my instructions regarding other dangers in life.

that way they also don't grow up to be that screaming/demanding child in the grocery store embarrassing their exasperated parent. Children want/need boundaries and they need to learn that they are not the center of the universe. If noone in their lives enforces boundaries upon them, the police will when they get older.

AGREED! After all we are the Parents and the 1st line of Defense in the chain of Life for all young ones!Who else is gonna do it after all it is called Parent hood isn't it?:thmbsp:

 

[chguat]

I think I'm just in a stage where my youngest is a little too young to know what we expect of him in terms of boundaries. My daughter (3 years old) doesn't need any of the safeguards, and she actually likes to pick out records for me to play (She loves The Beach Boys). My son is only 1 and he started walking early, which means he started getting into things before he could really understand that there are things we don't want him to get into. I'm strict with him, but I think he hits the rest button every night. Every day I have to re-teach him what he is and is not allowed to touch. I'm hoping it might start sticking soon.

 

[240sx4u]

I think I'm just in a stage where my youngest is a little too young to know what we expect of him in terms of boundaries. My daughter (3 years old) doesn't need any of the safeguards, and she actually likes to pick out records for me to play (She loves The Beach Boys). My son is only 1 and he started walking early, which means he started getting into things before he could really understand that there are things we don't want him to get into. I'm strict with him, but I think he hits the rest button every night. Every day I have to re-teach him what he is and is not allowed to touch. I'm hoping it might start sticking soon.

Yep, keep your stuff safe for awhile longer. It won't be too long before he gets it.

 

[Decatur Greg]

I guess I should be grateful that my kids enjoy my music, and that my son takes such an interest in my collections (he's always trying to get into my vintage video games as well). Someday I'll be able to just sit down and enjoy some of my favorite things with him, but that day is still a few years off.

Absolutely! Just remember that these few early years are just a drop in the bucket when you consider all the years you'll have to enjoy your kids. Be glad he's interested in this and encourage it all you can... while enforcing limits of course.

As a father of 4 (two stepkids)... I can tell you that you will love this later. My oldest son and I rebuilt a Fender Deluxe Reverb amp. He used it for years in bands. He doesn't gig now so I have it back for another restoration. My youngest son and daughter are into music and vinyl. Just restored a system for my daughter and showed my son how to setup a cartridge on his turntable. It never ends. :thmbsp: I never want it to either!

I did have a chuckle when I read about your son "pull the tubes out of your SET amp before you even knew he was in the room". That is SO much like my oldest son... now the most responsible parent you can imagine with two great kids and one stepson.

 

[chguat]

Good to know Dectur Greg. Now that I think of it, I was always into my Dad's stuff when I was a kid. I guess he'll grow out of it eventually and we'll all be able to enjoy some vinyl without child gates and locking doors.

 

[elcoholic]

 

[chguat]

I don't know, elcoholic. Wouldn't I get interference from the massive amounts of static electricity in the room?

 

[darksolstice]

I always found that consistently and firmly saying NO, followed by hand slaps and culminating in spanking if necessary was very effective (started at an early age and perfectly consistent is a must). It was incredible...my kids learned what they were not supposed to screw around with; and they didn't screw around with it. Of course i also showed them love and played with them, but I never let them win when it came to something I said NO about.

So, thankfully we never had to childproof anything. In my opinion that is what we parents are here for. I could let my kid touch the red hot wood stove, or I could teach them not to touch it using the aforementioned method. I would rather teach them not to touch it and have the added bonus of them obediently listening to my instructions regarding other dangers in life.

that way they also don't grow up to be that screaming/demanding child in the grocery store embarrassing their exasperated parent. Children want/need boundaries and they need to learn that they are not the center of the universe. If noone in their lives enforces boundaries upon them, the police will when they get older.

same here and with four boys no less!!

 

[elcoholic]

I don't know, elcoholic. Wouldn't I get interference from the massive amounts of static electricity in the room?

Only short bursts when you pulled them down. When my crumb-grabbers were little I put my equipment in one of those ubiquitous O'Sullivan entertainment centers (w/ a custom TT shelf) and everything was fine behind the glass.

 

[Corbin Gross]

Here's Mine

I mainly listen in the living room. Here's how I've got my equipment set up currently. It seems to be more or less child resistant. I've got three currently with one on the way, so minimizing destruction takes precedence over ideal placement.

It works pretty good for now. The CDP and EQ at the bottom don't get messed with much, but represent a total investment of $7, so I'm not terribly worried about them. The stylus on my TT cost more than either the receiver or the TT itself (but under $50), so that's on the top shelf. Both the receiver and TT are out of reach for all but the 7 year old.

The speakers are on the tippy top of course, because dust caps go quickly. And it really doesn't sound too bad. I have no misconceptions about being able to set up something with proper stereo separation and ideal so on and so forth. Not that you can sit still for more than a few seconds with 4 kids anyway.

Both of the shelves are screwed to the wall in 6 places each. Movies in the bottom cabinet on the right and toys/video games in the cabinet on the left. I'll usually have a dozen or so LPs/CDs on the middle left shelf, but most of my media is in the office (off limits). And there are usually some toys and stuff out, but we just cleaned up Christmas a couple days ago.

I think the only way to really chid proof a hi-fi is to have a system that you can live with being destroyed at some point. Everything I have in a kid accessible room (which is every room) is something I can live without. Anything that is so precious to me that I couldn't live with it being destroyed get's sold on CL or wrapped in a sheet and tucked in the attic (and there's not much in the attic).

Anyway, it's not totally child-proofed, but it's family friendly. Once the baby is born, I'll probably just take the CDP and EQ out and just use the iPod for digital. It's a constantly evolving process trying to adapt to little people.

 

[rjag46]

childproof

It,s called a padlock, lol
How bout hooking up a slight electrical charge to the componets that you can adjust ? I,m a mean old man! lol

 

[drknstrmyknight]

Then there's the low-tech approach

 

[jsixis]

I found it easier to educate the kids so they got good jobs and stay away lol

actually with my 4 kids I should them how to use it and what not to do.

I was always disappointed if I cam home and they were watching TV with the TV speakers.