diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
index 72a9da4..afb391d 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
@@ -149,6 +149,14 @@ class StringTree: # export
             return None
         return self.children[next(reversed(self.children))].content
 
+    def child_list(self, depth_first=True):
+        if depth_first == False:
+            raise Exception("tried to retrieve child list with breadth-first search, not yet implemented")
+        r = []
+        for c in self.children:
+            r.append(c)
+            r.extend(c.to_list())
+
     def dump(self, prio, *args, **kwargs):
         caller = kwargs['caller'] if 'caller' in kwargs.keys() else get_caller_pos(1)
         msg = ''