--- title: When Is My Child Ready to Move On to the Next Word Position? 🎯 description: You’ve been practicing speech sounds with your child, and now you’re wondering when it’s time to tackle a new word position. Don’t worry—we’ve got a fun and simple guide to help you decide! --- [Skip to content](https://wiki.athomearticulation.com/athomearticulationknowledgebase/when-is-my-child-ready-to-move-on-to-the-next-word-position#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![facebook\_logo-01-1.png\]](https://wiki.athomearticulation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/facebook_logo-01-1.png?height=50&name=facebook_logo-01-1.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - Go to athomearticulation.com Go to athomearticulation.com Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [At Home Articulation Knowledge Base](https://wiki.athomearticulation.com/athomearticulationknowledgebase?hsLang=en) 2. 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Knowing where to start can make a big difference in your child’s progress! #### **Step 1: Start Where Your Child Is Most Successful đŸ„‡** Instead of working through word positions in a specific order, begin with the position where your child is already showing success. ### **A Quick Example:** Let’s take George, who pronounces his name as “Gorge.” He’s clearly able to say the **‘J’** sound at the end of words, so it’s a great idea to start with the **final position**. By practicing where he’s already strong, you’re setting him up for a confidence boost. In the speech world, this is called a **“facilitating context”**—using a spot where your child is successful to help them transfer that skill to other, trickier spots (like the initial or medial positions). #### **Step 2: Aim for 80% Accuracy 🎯** The key to knowing when to switch word positions is tracking your child’s success. Here’s what to look for: - Your child should be saying the target sound correctly in their current word position **about 80% of the time**. - To measure this, listen to see if they get it right **4 out of 5 tries** during their first attempt at the word. For example, if George is working on the **‘J’** sound in the final position and nails it 4 out of 5 times, he’s hitting that 80% mark and might be ready to try saying the sound at the **beginning** or **middle** of words. ### **Pro Tip:** Track this over **3 separate practice sessions** to ensure your child is consistently accurate before moving on. #### **Step 3: Move On to the Next Word Position 🚀** Once your child is consistently reaching 80% accuracy in one word position, it’s time to move on to the next! The order doesn’t matter—let your child’s progress guide you: - If they’re doing great with the sound at the **end of words**, try it at the **beginning** next. - If they start strong with the **beginning**, move on to the **middle**. Every child’s journey is unique, so feel free to adapt based on what works best for them. #### **Be Flexible and Celebrate Small Wins! 🎉** It’s normal for kids to find some positions trickier than others. If your child needs extra time with a specific spot, that’s okay! Celebrate their progress, no matter how small, and keep practicing. Every step forward is a win! Ready to try a new word position? 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