Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In Irvine, you can get a free speech evaluation. Early Start helps if your child is under 3, and your public school district helps from age 3. Below you’ll find who to call, what happens next and simple ways to practice at home while you wait.
If something on this list worries you, you don’t need to wait and see. You can ask for a free evaluation right away.
An evaluation is a check of how your child talks and understands words. It usually happens through play, often with a speech therapist.
Early Start is California’s early intervention program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. If you live in Orange County, contact RCOC and ask for an evaluation.
From age 3, your school district evaluates your child’s speech, even before kindergarten. Some Irvine homes are in Tustin, Saddleback Valley or Santa Ana districts instead of IUSD.
CHOC’s rehabilitation team evaluates and treats children’s speech and language. Call the number below to ask about a first evaluation.
These services are run independently of Speech Blubs.
Watch and respond together.Getting an appointment can take time. Speech Blubs gives you short activities to do together: your child watches other kids say words and make sounds, then tries too.
Pick a topic your child loves, like animals or snacks.
Watch together and pause. Give your child time to look, point or say a word.
Use the word later, at snack time or in a book.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
NoelleMom, sister of a speech therapistMy sister is an SLP, and she actually told us to download this app for my kid.
LezlieMom of a toddlerHe looks forward to it every day because we get to take a fun picture.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
AnaMom of a 2-year-oldIt's definitely one of my favorite apps right now for my little one.
ChristinaMom of EdenWe aren't completely there, but we're closer than we ever have been.
Father of a 23-month-oldWhen I tell her it's time to play her game, she runs and gets up on the couch to play.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
MikeDad of a toddlerGail responds really well to seeing kids his age or a little bit older doing things that he's doing.
If your child sees a therapist, ask which activities fit.
The app content is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Czech, Swedish, Polish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Lithuanian and Romanian. You can switch the language in the app menu. Read the language FAQ.
Use a walk, a book, or a snack as a reason to talk together. Follow what interests your child.
A park with a children’s play area and picnic tables. Adventure Playground next door has a tree house and a sensory garden. 1 Beech Tree Lane, Irvine, CA 92612.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
An Irvine Public Library branch at 4466 Sandburg Way, in University Park.
Choose a picture your child likes and talk about it together. Connect it to a toy at home.
Offer two familiar toys or foods and name each one. Give your child time to respond. Follow a look, gesture, sound, or word.
Opening hours change, so check the website before you go.
Short answers about free help, costs and the app.
The evaluation is free: through Early Start under age 3, or through your public school district from age 3. School speech services are free if your child qualifies. Early Start therapy may be billed to Medi-Cal or your health insurance. Find free help.
Medi-Cal covers medically necessary speech therapy for children. Private plans differ, so call the number on your insurance card and ask about pediatric speech therapy. Find free help.
Not for Early Start or the school district: you can contact them yourself. Medi-Cal and many insurance plans may ask for a referral from your child’s doctor. Find free help.
Many 2-year-olds put two words together, like “more milk.” If your child doesn’t yet, it’s a good time to ask Early Start for a free evaluation. You don’t need to wait and see. Find free help.
No. It gives you short activities to practice together at home. A speech therapist evaluates your child and plans the therapy. See how the app works.
Speech Blubs is available in English and Spanish, plus 11 more languages. You can switch the language in the app menu. See how the app works.
Speech Blubs is a subscription. You’ll see the current price and any trial in the quiz before you pay. Choose your child’s age.
Start with the quiz to learn about the app for your child.
In University Park, you can get a free speech evaluation for your child and practice right in the neighborhood. University Park Library and University Community Park are both close to home.
If your child is under 3, call the Regional Center of Orange County about Early Start. Early Start is California’s early intervention program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. Parents can call directly, and the evaluation is free. From age 3, your public school district evaluates your child, even before kindergarten. Many Irvine homes are in Irvine Unified (IUSD). School speech services are free if your child qualifies. Before you call, note two moments that worried you, like mealtime or playing with other kids.
University Community Park at 1 Beech Tree Lane has a children’s play area and picnic tables. Next door, Adventure Playground has a tree house and a sensory garden. Play a noticing game on your walk. Find one color, one sound or one thing that moves. Say a short phrase, like “bird flying,” and pause for your child’s turn. Then let your child pick the next thing to find.
University Park Library is at 4466 Sandburg Way. Let your child choose a picture book, then stop on a page they enjoy. Name one thing they point to and wait for a response. Coming back to the same book is fine. Children often start to join in once they know the words. Ask the staff about story times for babies and toddlers.
We last checked these details in October 2026.
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