# Calling Parent From Child

**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/calling-parent-from-child/323870
**Category:** flash
**Created:** [July 21, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/calling-parent-from-child/323870 "2011-07-21T19:32:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![arunforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@arunforce](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/arunforce)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/calling-parent-from-child/323870/1 "2011-07-21T19:32:07Z")

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In my child constructor I use MovieClip(this.parent).blablabla() to retrieve info, yea I know I can pass it through the constructor, anyways I keep getting errors anytime I try to use MovieClip(this.parent) in the constructor, it gives a refrence error saying it’s null.

Why doesn’t that command work, is there a way around it (other than the constructor)? Is it because it’s bad design? I’m calling a function that has alot of data, so I’m just passing this to the child and using the passed this data to call the parent atm, looking for a better MovieClip(this.parent) solution.