In this article, I’ll show you how to create a WordPress child theme. This is an important tool for any web designer or developer because it allows your changes to be more easily integrated into the original code of your site. It also provides a way for you to keep track of all the changes that have been made in case something goes wrong.

A WordPress child theme will allow you to make design changes without affecting your site’s overall functionality and appearance.

Do you want to learn how to make a child theme for your WordPress site? It is easy and only takes about 5 minutes! Let’s get started! In this blog post, I will show you step-by-step instructions on creating a WordPress Child Theme.

WordPress child themes are straightforward to make, but I’ve noticed most tutorials are more complicated than they need to be.

All you need are two files in a folder: style.css + functions.php

  1. Create a Folder

    folder

    Create a folder to hold your child theme files. This will include your Style.css, Functions.php, and Screenshot.png

  2. Create a Style.css file

    template name

    Copy this code and add it to your style.css file:

    Replace Template: wp-bootstrap-starter with the name of your parent theme (it will be the folder name):

  3. Create a functions.php file

    child theme

    Copy this code and add it to your functions.php file:

    If you notice the formatting / CSS isn’t working, check the path to your Parents CSS '/style.css'

    You can include a theme image by adding an image with the name “screenshot.png” in the root folder.

  4. Add a Screenshot.PNG file

    screenshot

    This is optional, but you can add an image named screenshot.png to create an image to show up in Appearance >> Themes

If you are lazy like me, here are the downloadable files.

Lastly, don’t forget to activate your new child theme.

screenshot

What is a WordPress Child Theme?

Child themes are a great way to modify an existing theme without losing the design and code. A child theme inherits the functionality of its parent, making it easy for you to make modifications with your own style while still maintaining what’s already there!

What are the benefits of a WordPress Child Theme?

  1. Safety: Child themes save you time and hassle. You can implement small changes in your site without having to modify the parent theme at all, so when a new version of the parent is released, it’s safe for you to update because everything will be saved as-is on your child theme!
  2. Extendability: A child theme built on a powerful theme framework allows you to modify only the template files and functions that you need. You can add new functionality, or create your own custom layout without heavy coding skills!
  3. Fallback option: When you are creating a complete theme, it is important to think about all the possible scenarios and code for them. However, when you’re working on your child theme and forget to code something? There’s always that nice parent-theme functionality available as an alternative fallback option!

What are the disadvantages of using a Child Theme?

While this may seem like a disadvantage at first, the time you spend learning about parent themes can be beneficial. When your child theme is built on strong frameworks and hooks/filters, it will ensure all functionality for you!

How to install a WordPress Child Theme?

To use your child theme, open your WordPress dashboard and go to the Appearance > Themes tab. Inside, upload and select your Child Theme. Click on the Activate button next to the theme’s name. You will need the parent theme installed for this process to work.