diff --git a/cdist/core/cdist_object.py b/cdist/core/cdist_object.py
index 51d61e04..eea2c255 100644
--- a/cdist/core/cdist_object.py
+++ b/cdist/core/cdist_object.py
@@ -247,6 +247,13 @@ class CdistObject:
             lambda obj: os.path.join(obj.absolute_path, 'typeorder'))
     typeorder_dep = fsproperty.FileListProperty(
             lambda obj: os.path.join(obj.absolute_path, 'typeorder_dep'))
+    # objects without parents are objects specified in init manifest
+    parents = fsproperty.FileListProperty(
+            lambda obj: os.path.join(obj.absolute_path, 'parents'))
+    # objects without children are object of types that do not reuse other
+    # types
+    children = fsproperty.FileListProperty(
+            lambda obj: os.path.join(obj.absolute_path, 'children'))
 
     def cleanup(self):
         try:
diff --git a/cdist/emulator.py b/cdist/emulator.py
index a2bdc3d4..f1db862e 100644
--- a/cdist/emulator.py
+++ b/cdist/emulator.py
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ class Emulator:
             self.save_stdin()
             self.record_requirements()
             self.record_auto_requirements()
+            self.record_parent_child_relationships()
             self.log.trace("Finished %s %s" % (
                 self.cdist_object.path, self.parameters))
 
@@ -420,3 +421,21 @@ class Emulator:
                 self.log.debug("Recording autorequirement %s for %s",
                                current_object.name, parent.name)
                 parent.autorequire.append(current_object.name)
+
+    def record_parent_child_relationships(self):
+        # __object_name is the name of the object whose type manifest is
+        # currently executed
+        __object_name = self.env.get('__object_name', None)
+        if __object_name:
+            # The object whose type manifest is currently run
+            parent = self.cdist_object.object_from_name(__object_name)
+            # The object currently being defined
+            current_object = self.cdist_object
+            if current_object.name not in parent.children:
+                self.log.debug("Recording child %s for %s",
+                               current_object.name, parent.name)
+                parent.children.append(current_object.name)
+            if parent.name not in current_object.parents:
+                self.log.debug("Recording parent %s for %s",
+                               parent.name, current_object.name)
+                current_object.parents.append(parent.name)
diff --git a/docs/src/cdist-cache.rst b/docs/src/cdist-cache.rst
index d2d2d56c..d4159e77 100644
--- a/docs/src/cdist-cache.rst
+++ b/docs/src/cdist-cache.rst
@@ -61,6 +61,14 @@ Object cache overview
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Each object under :strong:`object` directory has its own structure.
 
+autorequire
+    file containing a list of object auto requirements
+
+children
+    file containing a list of object children, i.e. objects of types that this
+    type reuses (along with 'parents' it is used for maintaining parent-child
+    relationship graph)
+
 code-local
     code generated from gencode-local, present only if something is
     generated
@@ -80,6 +88,15 @@ parameter
     directory containing type parameter named files containing parameter
     values   
 
+parents
+    file containing a list of object parents, i.e. objects of types that reuse
+    this type (along with 'children' it is used for maintaining parent-child
+    relationship graph); objects without parents are objects specified in init
+    manifest
+
+require
+    file containing a list of object requirements
+
 source
     this type's source (init manifest)