diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c388b67..88c67af 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ dm = DotMap(dict)
 dm.c.d # returns 3
 dm.c.e = 5
 dm["c"].e # returns 5
+
+DotMap.todict(dm, keys_as_strings=true) # returns Dict("a"=>1, "b"=>2, "c" => Dict("d"=>3, "e"=>5))
+DotMap.todict(dm) # returns Dict(:a=>1, :b=>2, :c => Dict(:d=>3, :e=>5))
 ```
 
 **NOTE** This is not as performative as using normal dictionaries, but is nice for accessing deeply nested dictionary structures, such as large config/yaml/json files.
diff --git a/src/DotMaps.jl b/src/DotMaps.jl
index 508624b..54ab060 100644
--- a/src/DotMaps.jl
+++ b/src/DotMaps.jl
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module DotMaps
 export DotMap
 
 """
-   DotMaps.DotMap(::Dict)
+   DotMaps.DotMap(::AbstractDict)
 
 Constructs a DotMap from a Dict.  This provides the same functionaliity as dictionaries, but allows indexing with `.` instead of (or in addition to) `[""]`.
 """
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ mutable struct DotMap
     DotMap() = new(Dict{Symbol,Any}())
 end
 
-function DotMap(d::Dict)
+function DotMap(d::AbstractDict)
    dm = DotMap()
    for (k, v) in d
       dm.__dict__[Symbol(k)] = DotMap(v)
@@ -22,6 +22,24 @@ end
 
 DotMap(d::Any) = d
 
+"""
+   DotMaps.todict(::DotMap; keys_as_strings=false)
+
+Constructs a Dict from a DotMap. If `keys_as_strings`, the keys will be `String` instead of `Symbol`.
+"""
+function todict(obj::DotMap; keys_as_strings::Bool = false)
+   dict = Dict()
+   for (k, v) in obj
+      nk = keys_as_strings ? string(k) : k
+      dict[nk] = todict(v, keys_as_strings = keys_as_strings)
+   end
+
+   return dict
+end
+
+# return at leaves
+todict(obj::Any; keys_as_strings::Bool = false) = obj
+
 # make dots work
 function Base.getproperty(obj::DotMap, name::Symbol)
    if name == :__dict__
@@ -31,16 +49,16 @@ function Base.getproperty(obj::DotMap, name::Symbol)
    end
 end
 
-function Base.setproperty!(obj::DotMap, name::Symbol, x)
-   obj.__dict__[name] = x
-end
-
 # make dictionary indexing work
 Base.getindex(obj::DotMap, name::Symbol) = Base.getindex(obj.__dict__, name)
 Base.getindex(obj::DotMap, name::Any) = Base.getindex(obj, Symbol(name))
 
-Base.setindex!(obj::DotMap, name::Symbol, x) = Base.setindex!(obj.__dict__, name, x)
-Base.setindex!(obj::DotMap, name, x) = Base.setindex!(obj, Symbol(name), x)
+Base.setindex!(obj::DotMap, x, name::Symbol) = Base.setindex!(obj.__dict__, x, name)
+Base.setindex!(obj::DotMap, x::Dict, name::Symbol) = Base.setindex!(obj.__dict__, DotMap(x), name)
+Base.setindex!(obj::DotMap, x, name) = Base.setindex!(obj, x, Symbol(name))
+
+# assignment with dots
+Base.setproperty!(obj::DotMap, name::Symbol, x) = Base.setindex!(obj, x, name)
 
 # iteration
 Base.iterate(obj::DotMap) = Base.iterate(obj.__dict__)
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index ec6a5fb..4cc62a0 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ using Test
     @test DM.c.e == 5
     @test DM["c"].e == 5
 
+    DM.c.f = Dict("g" => 6)
+    @test DM.c.f.g == 6
+
     for (k, v) in DM
         @test isa(k, Symbol)
     end
@@ -39,4 +42,11 @@ using Test
     @test :a in propertynames(DM)
 
     @test isempty(DotMap())
+
+    d = DotMap()
+    d.a = Dict("b" => 2)
+    dd = DotMaps.todict(d, keys_as_strings=true)
+    @test dd == Dict("a" => Dict("b" => 2))
+    dds = DotMaps.todict(d)
+    @test dds == Dict(:a => Dict(:b => 2))
 end