What the heck is a child theme?

“A WordPress child theme is a theme that inherits the functionality of another theme, called the parent theme, and allows you to modify, or add to, the functionality of that parent theme.”

- The WordPress Codex

What can I use a child theme for?

• Customize the parent site design

• Add in additional functionality

• Save a bunch of time

Why would I use a child theme?

• Update the parent theme without losing your customizations

• Did I mention the part about saving time?

What do I need to get started?

• Choose a parent theme (check out twentyten & twentyeleven)

• A new folder in /wp-content/themes/

• A CSS file in your new theme

The unedited parent theme

Create a new theme folder

Add a ‘style.css’ file

Overriding style elements

Parent Theme Child Theme

Activate your child theme

*screenshot.png

Customized twentyeleven theme

Twentyeleven header manager

Overriding existing functions

Overriding existing functions

Overriding existing functions

Adding your own functions

Adding your own functions

Keep in mind…

• Your child theme can contain as many or as few files as you want

• Files in your child theme folder override files in the parent theme folder

• Adding a functions.php will add-to rather than override functions.php from your parent theme

Parent Theme vs Child Theme

Parent Theme Child Theme

Overriding files

Overriding files

Overriding files

Theme Frameworks

• Genesis – studiopress.com

• Thematic – themeshaper.com

• Hybrid – themehybrid.com

“A Theme framework is a Theme designed to be a flexible foundation for quicker WordPress development, usually serving as a robust Parent Theme for Child Themes.”

- The WordPress Codex

Resources

• http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development

• http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes

• http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API