Naomi and Ross must spend a week under the strict regime of the God-fearing Garnett family in Alabama. The teens immediately flout the rules and Ross is livid when dad Mark goes through his belongings. It's the summer holidays but the teens must work in a homeless shelter downtown, and as they never lift a finger at home working hard is a big shock. Though, it is illegal for teens to smoke in Alabama it doesn't stop Naomi asking one of the homeless men for a cigarette. She endures the wrath of Mark when she gets home, while Ross is in trouble for leaving the shelter without permission. But after spending another day at the shelter the teens reflect on their actions and Mark takes them out for some quality 'Daddy' time. The Garnetts' strict but loving regime touches Ross and Naomi and they return home determined to mend their ways.

Sam North, 17, from Brighton, and 16-year-old Charlotte Hart from Essex go to Jamaica to live for a week under the Christian regime of the Roses. Mum Sharon is in charge, but Sam refuses to go to church and humiliates her. He's sent to bed early and Charlotte is homesick and in floods of tears. At school Charlotte writes a terrible piece of work but Sam decides to knuckle down. The school call Sharon in to discuss Charlotte. Humiliated again she's devastated. Sharon tries to get under angry Sam's skin and Charlotte's in tears again. At the weekend it's down to the family farm to toil the soil. The teens realise how little they do at home, and both their attitudes begin to change. Letters from home bring out the tears, as Sam opens up about his troubled background and Charlotte realises how much she takes her mum for granted. TheRoses throw a party and heap praise on the teens, hoping they'll change when they return to the UK.

Lizzie and Stefan must spend a week under the strict regime of the Adegas, a typical middle class, Christian family in Ghana. Relationships are forbidden and children must do household chores before school. At school Lizzie gets into trouble for falling behind and as the teens get closer, mum Vida is uncomfortable with their relationship. At the beach Lizzie reveals too much of her body for Vida's liking, but as the week progresses they begin to bond, while Stefan turns into a productive member of the household and, as the teens head home, thanks to the Adegas they're keen to change their ways.

Josh from Tamworth and Charlotte from Bristol experience life in India for a week as guests of the Sharma family. The Sharmas are a strict middle class Hindu family and dad Sanjeev rules his kids with a rod of iron. Education is all important so the British teens are immediately packed off to school with 15-year=old Ankita. Charlotte and school don't mix - she and Josh bunk off their second lesson and are given a dressing down by the head teacher. Sanjeev is furious, as his family name is at stake. Charlotte refuses to go to school while Josh wins a debating contest. As a reward, Josh is allowed out with Sanjeev's nephews but must be back by 9pm. Charlotte agrees to go shopping with Ankita, but wants to come home early. By the end of the week, after a relaxing weekend in the country, Sanjeev breaks through Charlotte's barriers and Josh comes to realise how privileged he is. The teens return to the UK with good intentions to mend their ways.

Grant Stevens from London and Lucy Dodds from Essex spend a week on an isolated farm in South Africa with the Moolmans, a strict Afrikaans family. Drinking, smoking and going out are forbidden and children must obey their parents at all times. The British teens must attend a traditional private school in the nearest town. It is an exacting regime and it doesn't take long for Lucy to fall foul of the strict 'no make-up' rules. While Grant knuckles down, Lucy digs her heels in and gets expelled. At the house it is a different story, as Lucy throws herself into the chores with gusto while Grant struggles to cope with the physical demands of farm life. After a fiery start to their relationship, dad Hannes and Grant begin to bond. By the end Hannes is the father figure that Grant has always lacked at home. As the teens head home their experience has left them keen to mend their ways. By the end of the week, after a relaxing weekend in the country, Sanjeev breaks through Charlotte's barriers and Josh comes to realise how privileged he is. The teens return to the UK with good intentions to mend their ways.

The teens look back over their experience to see if strict parenting has changed the relationship they have with their own parents.