#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;
use Data::Dumper;

my @roster;

push (@roster, {'parentname' => "bob Smith", 
                'kid_names' => ["little bobby","big bill"],
               });
             
push (@roster, { parentname => "mary Jane",
                 childern => [ { name => "little sue",
                                 favcolor => "blue"
                               },
                               { name => "big bertha",
                                 favcolor => "green"
                               },
                             ],
             });

print "roster field names for 2nd entry:\n";                            
foreach my $field (keys %{$roster[1]})
{
   print "  $field\n";
}
print "\nthe names of the children for this parent:\n";
foreach my $href( @{$roster[1]{'childern'}} )
{
    print "  $href->{'name'}\n";
}

print Dumper \@roster;

__END__
Prints:
roster field names for 2nd entry:
  parentname
  childern

the names of the children for this parent:
  little sue
  big bertha
$VAR1 = [
          {
            'kid_names' => [
                             'little bobby',
                             'big bill'
                           ],
            'parentname' => 'bob Smith'
          },
          {
            'parentname' => 'mary Jane',
            'childern' => [
                            {
                              'favcolor' => 'blue',
                              'name' => 'little sue'
                            },
                            {
                              'favcolor' => 'green',
                              'name' => 'big bertha'
                            }
                          ]
          }
        ];