diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kstandarditem.h b/src/kitemviews/kstandarditem.h
--- a/src/kitemviews/kstandarditem.h
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kstandarditem.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 #include <QByteArray>
 #include <QHash>
-#include <QList>
+#include <QObject>
 #include <QVariant>
 
 class KStandardItemModel;
@@ -36,14 +36,13 @@
  * used roles. It is possible to assign values for custom
  * roles by using setDataValue().
  */
-class DOLPHIN_EXPORT KStandardItem
+class DOLPHIN_EXPORT KStandardItem : public QObject
 {
-
+    Q_OBJECT
 public:
     explicit KStandardItem(KStandardItem* parent = nullptr);
     explicit KStandardItem(const QString& text, KStandardItem* parent = nullptr);
     KStandardItem(const QString& icon, const QString& text, KStandardItem* parent = nullptr);
-    KStandardItem(const KStandardItem& item);
     virtual ~KStandardItem();
 
     /**
@@ -70,14 +69,9 @@
     void setDataValue(const QByteArray& role, const QVariant& value);
     QVariant dataValue(const QByteArray& role) const;
 
-    void setParent(KStandardItem* parent);
-    KStandardItem* parent() const;
-
     void setData(const QHash<QByteArray, QVariant>& values);
     QHash<QByteArray, QVariant> data() const;
 
-    QList<KStandardItem*> children() const;
-
 protected:
     virtual void onDataValueChanged(const QByteArray& role,
                                     const QVariant& current,
@@ -87,8 +81,6 @@
                                const QHash<QByteArray, QVariant>& previous);
 
 private:
-    KStandardItem* m_parent;
-    QList<KStandardItem*> m_children;
     KStandardItemModel* m_model;
 
     QHash<QByteArray, QVariant> m_data;
diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kstandarditem.cpp b/src/kitemviews/kstandarditem.cpp
--- a/src/kitemviews/kstandarditem.cpp
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kstandarditem.cpp
@@ -21,40 +21,29 @@
 #include "kstandarditemmodel.h"
 
 KStandardItem::KStandardItem(KStandardItem* parent) :
-    m_parent(parent),
-    m_children(),
+    QObject(parent),
     m_model(nullptr),
     m_data()
 {
 }
 
 KStandardItem::KStandardItem(const QString& text, KStandardItem* parent) :
-    m_parent(parent),
-    m_children(),
+    QObject(parent),
     m_model(nullptr),
     m_data()
 {
     setText(text);
 }
 
 KStandardItem::KStandardItem(const QString& icon, const QString& text, KStandardItem* parent) :
-    m_parent(parent),
-    m_children(),
+    QObject(parent),
     m_model(nullptr),
     m_data()
 {
     setIcon(icon);
     setText(text);
 }
 
-KStandardItem::KStandardItem(const KStandardItem& item) :
-    m_parent(item.m_parent),
-    m_children(item.m_children),
-    m_model(item.m_model),
-    m_data(item.m_data)
-{
-}
-
 KStandardItem::~KStandardItem()
 {
 }
@@ -123,17 +112,6 @@
     return m_data[role];
 }
 
-void KStandardItem::setParent(KStandardItem* parent)
-{
-    // TODO: not implemented yet
-    m_parent = parent;
-}
-
-KStandardItem* KStandardItem::parent() const
-{
-    return m_parent;
-}
-
 void KStandardItem::setData(const QHash<QByteArray, QVariant>& values)
 {
     const QHash<QByteArray, QVariant> previous = m_data;
@@ -146,11 +124,6 @@
     return m_data;
 }
 
-QList<KStandardItem*> KStandardItem::children() const
-{
-    return m_children;
-}
-
 void KStandardItem::onDataValueChanged(const QByteArray& role,
                                        const QVariant& current,
                                        const QVariant& previous)
diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kstandarditemmodel.cpp b/src/kitemviews/kstandarditemmodel.cpp
--- a/src/kitemviews/kstandarditemmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kstandarditemmodel.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@
 
         onItemRemoved(index, item);
 
-        delete item;
+        item->deleteLater();
         item = nullptr;
 
         emit itemsRemoved(KItemRangeList() << KItemRange(index, 1));