diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/ast.py b/blueprintcompiler/ast.py
index 6a96b8a..a7f1f65 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/ast.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/ast.py
@@ -195,7 +195,12 @@ class Template(Object):
 
 class Child(AstNode):
     def emit_xml(self, xml: XmlEmitter):
-        xml.start_tag("child", type=self.tokens["child_type"])
+        child_type = internal_child = None
+        if self.tokens["internal_child"]:
+            internal_child = self.tokens["child_type"]
+        else:
+            child_type = self.tokens["child_type"]
+        xml.start_tag("child", type=child_type, internal_child=internal_child)
         for child in self.children:
             child.emit_xml(xml)
         xml.end_tag()
diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/decompiler.py b/blueprintcompiler/decompiler.py
index 85e099d..aa315ec 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/decompiler.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/decompiler.py
@@ -261,9 +261,11 @@ def decompile_object(ctx, gir, klass, id=None):
 
 
 @decompiler("child")
-def decompile_child(ctx, gir, type=None):
+def decompile_child(ctx, gir, type=None, internal_child=None):
     if type is not None:
         ctx.print(f"[{type}]")
+    elif internal_child is not None:
+        ctx.print(f"[internal-child {internal_child}]")
     return gir
 
 
diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/parser.py b/blueprintcompiler/parser.py
index 25ab1a1..0c6d9fe 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/parser.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/parser.py
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ def parse(tokens) -> T.Tuple[ast.UI, T.Optional[MultipleErrors]]:
         Sequence(
             Optional(Sequence(
                 OpenBracket(),
+                Optional(Sequence(Keyword("internal-child"), UseLiteral("internal_child", True))),
                 UseIdent("child_type").expected("a child type"),
                 CloseBracket(),
             )),