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.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
AnaMom of a 2-year-oldIt's definitely one of my favorite apps right now for my little one.
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.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
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 large regional park on East Spring Street with playgrounds, picnic areas, two lakes and a nature center.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
A Long Beach Public Library branch close to El Dorado Park. 2900 Studebaker Road, Long Beach, CA 90815.
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 El Dorado Park Estates, free speech help for your child and big outdoor spaces are close to home. El Dorado East Regional Park and El Dorado Neighborhood Library on Studebaker Road are good places to start.
If your child is under 3, call Harbor Regional Center about Early Start. Harbor Regional Center serves Long Beach. Early Start is California’s early intervention program for children up to 36 months, and the evaluation is free. From age 3, your public school district evaluates your child for free. In Long Beach, this is usually Long Beach Unified (LBUSD). School speech services are free if your child qualifies. When you call, give your child’s age, your address and a few examples from home.
El Dorado East Regional Park at 7550 East Spring Street has playgrounds, picnic areas, two lakes and paved paths. Walk to the water’s edge and look for birds together. Say one word for what you see, like “duck” or “splash.” Then wait. Your child can point, copy you or add their own word. Pick one spot to visit each time.
El Dorado Neighborhood Library is at 2900 Studebaker Road. Give the visit one small goal, like returning a book or finding a new favorite. Hold up two covers and wait for your child to choose. Talk about what caught their eye. After the park, a book about ducks or fish keeps the talk going at home. Library staff can tell you when the next storytime for little kids is.
We last checked these details in October 2026.
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