diff --git a/lib/core/macros.nim b/lib/core/macros.nim
index becfd2d94..48e4566b3 100644
--- a/lib/core/macros.nim
+++ b/lib/core/macros.nim
@@ -708,14 +708,12 @@ proc `$`*(node: NimNode): string {.compileTime.} =
 proc ident*(name: string): NimNode {.compileTime,inline.} = newIdentNode(name)
   ## Create a new ident node from a string
 
-iterator children*(n: NimNode): NimNode {.inline.}=
-  for i in 0 .. high(n):
-    yield n[i]
-
 iterator items*(n: NimNode): NimNode {.inline.}=
   for i in 0 .. high(n):
     yield n[i]
 
+{.deprecated: [children: items].}
+
 template findChild*(n: NimNode; cond: expr): NimNode {.
   immediate, dirty.} =
   ## Find the first child node matching condition (or nil).