Hydro is less forgiving than soil for sure......a hydro system really can't be left for a day or two without things like the ph etc being checked.....unless you've spent ALOT of money for extra toys to control those things for you. With your situation (kids) I'd stick with soil. Soil plants won't sob if you aren't down there checking on them often.

With hydro...as quick as plants can grow....that's about as quick as they can go down in a hydro system when something goes wrong.