x.py

class F(object):
    pass

place_data_items = {}
place_data_items["state"] = [F(), F(), F()]

for pt, items in place_data_items.iteritems():
    if pt == 'state':
        for i in items:
            print "update loop: %s" % i
 
for item in place_data_items["state"]:
    print "_children loop: %s" % item
    
    
# output
update loop: <__main__.F object at 0x10046d650>
update loop: <__main__.F object at 0x10046d890>
update loop: <__main__.F object at 0x10046d8d0>
_children loop: <__main__.F object at 0x10046d650>
_children loop: <__main__.F object at 0x10046d890>
_children loop: <__main__.F object at 0x10046d8d0>