Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In Oakland, 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. Call RCEB’s Early Start line to ask for an evaluation for your child.
Oakland Unified’s center evaluates young children whose families live in Oakland. Call the center or use its website to ask for an evaluation.
The hospital’s speech therapy clinic evaluates and treats children with speech and language needs. Contact the clinic 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.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
LezlieMom of a toddlerHe looks forward to it every day because we get to take a fun picture.
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.
AnaMom of a 2-year-oldIt's definitely one of my favorite apps right now for my little one.
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.
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.
MikeDad of a toddlerGail responds really well to seeing kids his age or a little bit older doing things that he's doing.
ChristinaMom of EdenWe aren't completely there, but we're closer than we ever have been.
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 and recreation center on Webster Street with a tot lot, a playground and picnic tables.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
An Oakland Public Library branch with children’s books in Spanish. 5205 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609.
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 Temescal, a free speech evaluation and good places to practice are close to home. Temescal Branch Library on Telegraph Avenue and Mosswood Park on Webster Street are both nearby.
For a baby or toddler under 3, call the Regional Center of the East Bay about Early Start. It’s California’s program for children up to 36 months, and the evaluation is free. You can call yourself, without a doctor’s note. For preschool-age children, Oakland Unified’s Early Childhood Evaluation Center evaluates young children who live in Oakland. School speech services are free if your child qualifies. When you call, give your child’s age and a few examples from home.
Mosswood Park and Recreation Center at 3612 Webster Street has a tot lot for ages 2 to 5. It also has a playground for ages 5 to 12 and picnic tables. Bring a snack in a container your child can’t open alone. Hand it over and wait. Your child might say “open” or “help.” Open it and name the snack. Offer small pieces, so they can ask for “more.”
Temescal Branch Library is at 5205 Telegraph Avenue. It has children’s books in Spanish as well as English. Pick a book about something your child already likes, such as animals or buses. Take turns finding one picture. Make the animal sound or the bus noise, then pause. Let your child copy you, then borrow the book. Reading the same book many times is fine. 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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