jdesign123

I think there is a lot of confusion on this topic. There are however a few ways to go about creating a child theme on GoDaddy Managed WordPress. You can opt to use an FTP like Filezilla, however there is a much easier way. This is why I decided to post.
First of all, with regular GoDaddy you can use your file manager. Managed WordPress you cannot access your directory. So, if you can add a new theme to your Themes panel in the WordPress dashboard then you can do this. If you follow these directions carefully you will be amazed at how simple it is.

For this example lets use Child Theme 2012. For other themes its the same process, just use that file name
1. Create a folder and name it Child_2012
2. Create a style.css file in Text Wrangler or Notepad++ (Whatever text editor you prefer)
3. Ensure that you input the following into the CSS File. Note: Where its says Template: This must be exactly as it is on the Theme. If not sure just check the URL. Below the Flower-box you have to input the @import url(“../twentytwelve/style.css”); (See Below). Make sure its outside the Flower-box. See step four (4) for giving the theme thumbnail a custom image

/*
Theme Name: Child of 2012
Description: Cool Child of 2012
Author: Jason Moroney
Version: 0.0.1
Template: twentytwelve
*/

@import url(“../twentytwelve/style.css”);

4. Save the CSS File. Create a custom image in Photoshop or wherever you choose. Size the image 880X660 and save it as screenshot.png.
5. Because you cannot access the directory to save this folder with the CSS file and the image, we have to do the following:
a. Save Child-2012 Folder and then compress it
b. Go to your WordPress Dashboard
c. Go to Appearance
d. Go to Themes
e. Add New
f. Upload Theme
g. Choose File (Select the zip file Child_2012)
Note: Because this is managed WordPress the file will uploaded to your directory in the File Manager
h. You will see the Theme created inside your Themes Panel with the image you created
i. Activate the Themeand now when you make your edits you wont have to worry about updates to the Parent theme wiping out your site.

This sounds like a lot, but once you create that first CSS file and Folder you can just copy and repeat the process for any theme. Just changing the name and the URL link name. From there its as simple as adding a new theme to your Themes panel. Hope this helps.