Hi Jim,
Having kids myself: Go with bigger hooks, like a 1/O or 2/0, and make sure they're barbless. Easy to unhook the fish with a bigger hook, and you'll catch fewer 4" fish. Also, for excitement with the kids, go with a bobber set up with the leader below the same length as the rod. I've put a small tag of aluminum foil (about as big as a match stick) under the bait as an attractor when I'm a ways off the bottom. Fold it in half and hook it through the folded end.