This paper examines the influence children have on the behaviour of tourist parties while on holiday. It argues that the role of children has been under-researched and under-valued. A diary based space-time budget survey was used to collect information on the activities of 143 tourist parties staying in Cornwall, England, for a period of at least one week. The paper stresses the role of group decisions in purchasing tourism products while on holiday and the contrasting needs of two or more generations. Children were found to influence the behaviour of tourist parties either through their physical needs (e.g. arrangement of meal times, need for sleep) or through their ability to negotiate with parents. The results suggest the need for theories sensitive to the influence of group decision-making and the ability of children to influence group behaviour.