diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/language/gtkbuilder_child.py b/blueprintcompiler/language/gtkbuilder_child.py
index 83fadf7..72843a1 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/language/gtkbuilder_child.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/language/gtkbuilder_child.py
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ from .gobject_object import Object
 from .response_id import ResponseId
 from .common import *
 
+ALLOWED_PARENTS: T.List[T.Tuple[str, str]] = [
+    ("Gtk", "Buildable"),
+    ("Gio", "ListStore")
+]
 
 class Child(AstNode):
     grammar = [
@@ -37,6 +41,22 @@ class Child(AstNode):
         Object,
     ]
 
+    @validate()
+    def parent_can_have_child(self):
+        if gir_class := self.parent.gir_class:
+            for namespace, name in ALLOWED_PARENTS:
+                parent_type = self.root.gir.get_type(name, namespace)
+                if gir_class.assignable_to(parent_type):
+                    break
+            else:
+                hints=["only Gio.ListStore or Gtk.Buildable implementors can have children"]
+                if "child" in gir_class.properties:
+                    hints.append("did you mean to assign this object to the 'child' property?")
+                raise CompileError(
+                    f"{gir_class.full_name} doesn't have children",
+                    hints=hints,
+                )
+
     @cached_property
     def response_id(self) -> T.Optional[ResponseId]:
         """Get action widget's response ID.
diff --git a/tests/sample_errors/children.blp b/tests/sample_errors/children.blp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..400fe2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sample_errors/children.blp
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+using Gtk 4.0;
+
+ListItem {
+  Label {}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/sample_errors/children.err b/tests/sample_errors/children.err
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d294464
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sample_errors/children.err
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+4,3,8,Gtk.ListItem doesn't have children
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_samples.py b/tests/test_samples.py
index ea6b2ea..4fdb5c0 100644
--- a/tests/test_samples.py
+++ b/tests/test_samples.py
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ class TestSamples(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assert_sample_error("action_widget_response_dne")
         self.assert_sample_error("action_widget_negative_response")
         self.assert_sample_error("bitfield_member_dne")
+        self.assert_sample_error("children")
         self.assert_sample_error("class_assign")
         self.assert_sample_error("class_dne")
         self.assert_sample_error("consecutive_unexpected_tokens")