Film illustrating the differences and similarities of adult-children relationships across five different communities: Esher in Surrey, Colne in Lancashire, New Guinea, Botswana and the people of the Himalayan Foothills. The film examines aspects of discipline, the function of work/ play in children's life and questions why the parents have their children and what their ambitions are for them. The film closes with a question of the fate of the future of the children under examination. It stresses how each community has strong cultural differences that are reflected in the attitude towards children.