diff --git a/lib/csys/program.ex b/lib/csys/program.ex
index 0f1d75c..9b3d6d2 100644
--- a/lib/csys/program.ex
+++ b/lib/csys/program.ex
@@ -21,9 +21,8 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSys.Program do
   def std_proc(msg, scope) do
     #scope = Process.get(:scope)
     case msg do
-      {:parent} ->
-        new = create_parent(scope)
-        notify({:created, new}, scope)
+      {:create, :parent} -> create_parent(scope)
+      {:create, :child} -> create_child(scope)
       _ -> forward(msg, scope) || notify(msg, scope)
     end
   end
@@ -48,9 +47,21 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSys.Program do
 
 # step functions
 
-  def create_parent({_state, proc, _syns, env}) do
+# create_... steps
+# todo: provide parameters for initial state, proc / stage, op,
+#       depending on state and stage (proc) of self, as well as message, env, ...
+
+  def create_parent(scope={_state, proc, _syns, env}) do
     syn = synapse(self(), &Function.identity/1, 0)
     #neuron({[], Environ.get_stage(env, :basic, :initial), [syn], env})
-    neuron({[], proc, [syn], env})
+    new = neuron({[], proc, [syn], env})
+    notify({:created, new}, scope)
+  end
+
+  def create_child (scope={state, proc, syns, env}) do
+    new = neuron({[], proc, [], env})
+    syn = synapse(new, &Function.identity/1, 0)
+    update_neuron({state, proc, [syn | syns], env})
+    notify({:created, new}, scope)
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/csys_test.exs b/test/csys_test.exs
index bb67d35..3f69575 100644
--- a/test/csys_test.exs
+++ b/test/csys_test.exs
@@ -15,11 +15,13 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSysTest do
       zero = CSys.neuron({[], proc, [], env})
       Actor.send(zero, "Hello Zero!")
       assert_receive "Hello Zero!"
-      Actor.send(zero, {:parent})
-      assert_receive {:created, new}
-      Actor.send(new, "Hello New!")
-      assert_receive "Hello New!"
-      # assert_receive "Hello New!"
+      Actor.send(zero, {:create, :parent})
+      assert_receive {:created, new1}
+      Actor.send(new1, {:create, :child})
+      assert_receive {:created, _new2}
+      Actor.send(new1, "Hello New1!")
+      assert_receive "Hello New1!"
+      assert_receive "Hello New1!"
       Process.sleep(50)
       # Actor.stop(zero)
       refute_received msg, "unhandled message(s): #{inspect(msg)}"