class ParentClass { private $prVar = "I'm private variable from ParentClass!"; protected $prVar2 = "I'm private variable2 from ParentClass!"; public function myFunctionA() { echo "public function from ParentClass<br>"; } protected function myFunctionB() { return $this->prVar; } } class ChildClass extends ParentClass { public function myFunctionC() { //MISTAKE!!! return "USING parent value1:" . $this->prVar . " <br>" . "USING parent value2:" . $this->prVar2; } } $child = new ChildClass(); //ERROR! //$child->myFunctionB(); echo "<hr>"; $child->myFunctionA(); echo "<hr>"; //ERROR! echo $child->myFunctionC();