Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In Riverside, 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 Inland Regional Center’s Riverside County Early Start line to ask for an evaluation.
From age 3, your school district evaluates your child’s speech, even before kindergarten. Riverside homes can be in Riverside Unified or Alvord, so look up your district by address.
A private clinic with speech and language therapy for children and an office in downtown Riverside. Contact the clinic through its website 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.
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.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
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.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
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.
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.
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 in Canyon Crest with city views and trails into Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
A Riverside Public Library branch inside Orange Terrace Park. 20010-B Orange Terrace Parkway, Riverside, CA.
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 Mission Grove, you can get free help with your child’s speech and find good places to practice nearby. Orange Terrace Library and Sycamore Highlands Park in Canyon Crest are both a short drive away.
For a baby or toddler under 3, call Inland Regional Center and ask about Early Start. Early Start is California’s program for children up to 36 months, and the evaluation is free. You don’t need a doctor’s note. From age 3, ask your public school district in writing for a speech evaluation. After a written request, the district has 15 days to send you an evaluation plan. The Riverside County Office of Education’s address lookup shows which district serves your home.
Sycamore Highlands Park in nearby Canyon Crest has views over the city and trails into Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park. Keep the visit short: one walk, then a rest. Let your child choose something to look at, like a bird or a cloud. Name it with two words, like “bird flying,” and wait for your child to answer. Then let your child choose the next thing.
Orange Terrace Library is at 20010-B Orange Terrace Parkway. Before a park day, choose a picture book about a park, a garden or animals. Look at one picture together and name what you see. Later, outside, point to something from the book. Say, “Look, a bird, like in our book,” and wait for your child’s reply. Any reply counts, even a point or a smile.
We last checked these details in October 2026.
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