Why do some children give up on problems easily while others persevere? What makes a boy or girl afraid to try in the first place? This program studies the factors that help create a resilient personality and the reasons why some children back down from challenges. Visiting a group of 25 seven-year-olds, the film observes them with their parents and on their own as they undertake practical tasks gauging motivation, self-confidence, and assertiveness. The tests include the Tower of Hanoi, a building project requiring concentration and planning; a group of three puzzles—designated easy, medium, and hard—that reveal a child’s estimation of his or her own abilities; and a card game between parents and offspring, rigged to show how the kids cope with losing. A BBC/Open University Co-production. Original broadcast title: Will to Win. Part of the series Child of Our Time 2007. (60 minutes)