public function unset_children( $element, &$children_elements ) {
		if ( ! $element || ! $children_elements ) {
			return;
		}

		$id_field = $this->db_fields['id'];
		$id       = $element->$id_field;

		if ( ! empty( $children_elements[ $id ] ) && is_array( $children_elements[ $id ] ) ) {
			foreach ( (array) $children_elements[ $id ] as $child ) {
				$this->unset_children( $child, $children_elements );
			}
		}

		unset( $children_elements[ $id ] );
	}