Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In Long Beach, 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. Harbor Regional Center serves Long Beach, so call its Early Start line to ask for an evaluation.
From age 3, your school district evaluates your child’s speech, even before kindergarten. Ask your child’s school or LBUSD’s special education office for an evaluation.
Miller Children’s offers speech therapy for children at the Cherese Mari Laulhere Children’s Village, 2701 Atlantic Avenue. Call the number below to ask about a first visit.
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.
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.
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.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
ChristinaMom of EdenWe aren't completely there, but we're closer than we ever have been.
MikeDad of a toddlerGail responds really well to seeing kids his age or a little bit older doing things that he's doing.
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.
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 playground on East Ocean Boulevard with play equipment, courts and a roller hockey rink.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
A Long Beach Public Library branch near the beach in Belmont Shore. 195 Bay Shore Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90803.
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 Belmont Shore, a free speech evaluation and easy places to practice are close to home. Bayshore Playground on East Ocean Boulevard and Bay Shore Neighborhood Library are good everyday stops.
If your child is under 3, call Harbor Regional Center about Early Start. It runs Early Start for Long Beach babies and toddlers up to 36 months. You can call yourself, and the evaluation is free. From age 3, Long Beach Unified (LBUSD) evaluates your child for free, even before kindergarten. After a written request, the district has 15 days to send you an evaluation plan. Tell each team which languages your child hears at home.
Bayshore Playground at 5415 East Ocean Boulevard has playground equipment, plus courts and a roller hockey rink. Play “stop and go” on the way in. Say “go” and walk, then “stop” and freeze. After a few rounds, wait before you move. Let your child say “go” to start you again. Then let your child be the one who says “stop.”
Bay Shore Neighborhood Library is at 195 Bay Shore Avenue. The branch closes for building work from October 26, 2026, and storytimes move to other locations for a while. Look at its page before you go. At home or at the library, let your child choose a picture book. Name one thing they point to, then wait for a response. Reading the same book many times is fine. Children often join in once they know the words.
We last checked these details in October 2026.
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