How young are the kids? Babies and littles will need redirecting away. You could cover the gym items with a spare flat bed sheet when it isn't in use. It really comes down to parenting and teaching the children it is a no or off limits thing. Broken record technique can be helpful!

Thanks Erica. I have updated the post with Kids age.

You say you want a kid friendly basement. Hmmm, haven't seen any kids in ads for exercise equipment. And you know how curious kids are, they'll be climbing all over it. And the more you tell them no, the more they will want to do it. For peace of mind, build a wall around the equipment. And if down the road you find you aren't exercising any longer or your teen-age kids are partying down there with their friends, then you may want to take the wall down....

Keep your sanity and gain peace of mind--put some kind of barrier (full or glass wall & door) between the exercise equipment and the rest of the area. Maybe something that could be totally opened up should you decide to use the gym area for something else in the future..

I have to agree with kids that age they need that space off limits with a door and maybe even a lock for the older one .

I had a neighbor called sobbing one day to have my husband come over to give her child medical attention. Her son had tried to climb up on the treadmill when she was using it. He was sanded from head to toe. I would do the walls. Is there an option to have a window that opens on top. It would be nice to be able to talk to the kids and have tv access while working out.

Agreed. Walls. Maybe do glass walls?

No glass doors! Aside from smudged fingerprints, the kids will be throwing things in the area and could damage the glass. We have a stationary bike in our gym (closed off by a door) and anytime the kid are there they want to climb on it. It will be very difficult to keep them away from gym equipment, assuming you will have bands and weights in there.

I know a young woman who, as a child of maybe 4, managed to turn on a treadmill and get caught up in it. She was terribly burned and it changed her life forever. PLEASE set up some sort of safety barrier to keep the kids out. This treadmill operated with a key - she easily found the key and turned it on.

Thank you so much everyone for your valuable time and opinion. it seems, almost everyone suggesting a GYM room with door (Glass).

I have a question for @Maureen : Why did you say to skip the glass door for resale ? Actually I might be thinking to resale after 5 years down the road. Would this room not considered as a true room with Glass door ? I have a another bed room though. this would be considred my 2nd bed room. I am thinking to install french Barn door myself.

thanks.

Doors with tempered glass should be fine One can always use curtains on the inside of the glass as a visual screen if necessary...or reeded glass with diminished transparency. I don't see a problem with this type door for eventual bedroom functionality if required. One further caution in favor of doors on exercise space...a child who climbed on a multi-station weight machine and was almost fatally hung on a returning cable activated by another child. DON'T allow uncontrolled access to such equipment for young children. I once had a Nordic Track Ski machine and a Vectra multi-station gym in my large bedroom. I had to lock the doors when young nieces and nephews came to visit to curb their enthusiastic curiosity and exploration!

A 7 year old knows better, but with a 6 month old, it is best to do some kind of closing off. I like the tempered glass idea. Clear would be good, so you can eyeball your munchkins.:)

Thought solid doors if/when used as a bedroom would be a good choice for more privacy.

Thank you all again

One last question, If I go with GYM room with wall, does it makes the space look crowded coming in the exterior/walout door. which is the foyer space of 7'10 X 9' toward walkout door. please see the 3rd picture. Please advise. Thanks !!

The treadmill should have one of the cards in the front you can put away so they can’t use it. Is there something similar to lock the bike? If so you could just put a portable crib in the room and put a TV or iPad on a music stand in front of it and put the kids in where you can supervise them while you work out. (Ex. Turn the treadmill and bike to face the portable crib). And then reorientation the fitness equipment in ten years when they are older.
I’d hesitate to put any solid or translucent barrier so they are out of sight when you work out. Kids that age are very creative in finding all kinds of dangerous things to do when you aren’t watching, stuff you never even imagined was possible.