What is a Child Theme in WordPress?

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Creating a blog on WordPress is an exciting endeavor but all the decisions up front can get confusing! Determining what you need – including parent themes and child themes – might just leave you scratching your head. We’ll walk you through the basics of a WordPress child theme and the benefits it provides for your site.

What is a WordPress theme?

A WordPress theme is a set of files that works together to customize a site into a particular design or layout. When you sign up for WordPress, you can choose free default themes with the structure needed to get your site up and running.

Themes are the frameworks to customize the appearance of your website without knowing all the specifics of coding. A theme is similar to a template in that it has a preset design and functionality, but it is more comprehensive than just a single web page or layout.

What is the difference between a parent theme and a child theme?

The difference between a child and parent theme is the level of the hierarchy that connects them. Think of the parent theme as providing the DNA of the site. The parent theme also contains all the code needed to organize these elements and receive updates as they roll out.

A WordPress child theme is a sub-theme that is dependent on the parent theme. Once a parent theme is in place, the child theme can be installed to change visual elements or functions. The child theme will inherit all of its functionality from the parent theme, but the site owner will have exclusive control over those changes outside of updates that automatically occur to the parent theme. 

Many WordPress site owners operate without using child themes and find just enough options with parent themes. However, parent themes are controlled by their developers and are frequently updated for security and performance. Albeit good, these updates can also overwrite your edits in the parent theme.

Using a child theme solves the problem of keeping your site up to date without losing your custom designs or functions.  You can update the parent theme and still keep all of your customizations made at the child theme level.

Kadence as a parent theme

WordPress offers many parent theme options in both free and pro (paid) versions. Your design needs will vary based on site goals and audience, but the Kadence parent theme will cover just about anything a blogger could need. We recommend choosing the free version of Kadence as your parent theme whether you are just getting started or more established.

There is no shortage of support when you choose Kadence. It is continually a leading theme across WordPress users and is currently powering over 300,000 sites! Kadence is a great choice for a parent theme because of the many template options and included features within the theme. 

Here are just a few of the capabilities you have with Kadence:

• You can create custom headers and footers.
• You have global control of your color palette for design and brand impact.
• You can create custom layouts with a user-friendly block editor. This new editor is similar to the drag-and-drop appeal of other website builders.
• You have built-in SEO optimization features.

Additionally, Kadence is very easy to use with an intuitive interface. This theme is very secure and has great site performance speed. Speed and security are essential to keeping your site visitors on your page!

Benefits of a child theme

You can build your blog on Kadence (or another theme) alone, but adding a child theme can allow it to serve you and your audience even better. Let’s discuss how this can benefit your blog and your brand!

1. By adding a child theme, you can start your blog with a fully customized starting point. As a new blogger, you can forego pricey custom web design services with this option!
2. A child theme allows you to make tweaks, add-ons, and other changes that won’t change your overall site theme. You can play around and change things up without changing the “bones” of your site. Your changes won’t be overwritten with automatic updates because this customization is stored separately from the parent theme.
3. If you do want to dive into the world of coding and design, you can create your own child theme or customize functions as much as you like without committing to an entire site design. It’s a great starting point to learn how to make adjustments so you can problem-solve as issues arise.
4. WordPress Child themes are also readily available in so many designs. A good theme will be designed by someone who understands user experience and takes the guesswork out for you. Take a ready-made design and adjust custom features to reflect the fonts, colors, graphics, and styles that are entirely unique to your brand and the needs of your business.

Common Questions

• Do I need a child theme? You do not need a child theme to run your blog on WordPress. However, if you are new to blogging or don’t have much time or desire to customize your site, a child theme is a great investment. With this option, you can elevate your site with a custom look and feel but in a done-for-you approach.
• Can I use a free theme? Yes, most bloggers can start with the free version of the Kadence parent theme. When choosing a WordPress child theme, keep in mind that most quality child themes have a relatively small one-time fee. In our opinion, this fee is well worth it in exchange for the time that it would take most people to DIY all the elements.
• How do I set up my theme? You can find free learn-as-you-go resources to set up your theme through forums, blogs, or YouTube. Most paid themes will come with tutorials and support from the provider. These support extras may be key factors in helping you choose a quality theme!
• What if I want to change the design of my site? It is very easy to install a new child theme to change the design of your site for a different look, feel, and layout. Plus, the investment is relatively low to purchase a new WordPress child theme in comparison to hiring a web designer or starting over with a new parent theme. You might find all the changes you need to make by switching up a child theme, alone.

Themes we recommend

If you’re the type who loves your options narrowed down for you, we’ve got you covered!

We love, use, and recommend the themes at Restored316Designs. Restored316 is a company that truly creates and operates with you, the entrepreneur or blogger, in mind. Browse through stunning, affordable layouts that come with tutorials and very responsive customer support options.

We interviewed Lauren of Restored316 back on podcast episode 51, and you will love learning more about the technicalities of WordPress themes and what they can do for your site as well as the mission behind the designs at Restored316. We highly encourage you to check out Lauren’s Kadence designs as well as all the additional resources for bloggers and entrepreneurs on her site!

Child themes can make a powerful impact on the function and overall aesthetic of your blog, and save you hours in the long run. Once you get your themes set up, your blog will be completely unique and reflective of you!

Learn more about our programs for blogging support here or connect with us on Instagram at @sparkmediaconcepts

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