diff --git a/src/runner/instance.rs b/src/runner/instance.rs
index 0dad951..ffb950c 100644
--- a/src/runner/instance.rs
+++ b/src/runner/instance.rs
@@ -152,6 +152,23 @@ impl Instance{
 				Ok(crate::context::class_is_a(instance.class.as_str(),classname.to_str()?))
 			})
 		);
+		methods.add_meta_function(mlua::MetaMethod::Index,|lua,(this,index):(Self,mlua::String)|{
+			let index_str=index.to_str()?;
+			dom(lua,|dom|{
+				let instance=this.get(dom)?;
+				//find a child with a matching name
+				let maybe_child=instance.children()
+				.iter()
+				.find(|&&r|
+					dom.get_by_ref(r)
+					.is_some_and(|instance|instance.name==index_str)
+				);
+				match maybe_child{
+					Some(&referent)=>Instance::new(referent).into_lua(lua),
+					None=>mlua::Value::Nil.into_lua(lua),
+				}
+			})
+		});
 		methods.add_meta_function(mlua::MetaMethod::NewIndex,|lua,(this,index,value):(Self,mlua::String,mlua::Value)|
 			dom(lua,|dom|{
 				//println!("__newindex t={this:?} i={index:?} v={value:?}");