Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In Sacramento, 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. For Sacramento County, call Alta California Regional Center’s Early Start line and ask for an evaluation.
If you live in SCUSD, the district evaluates children from age 3, even before kindergarten. Natomas families may be in Natomas Unified instead, so look up your district first.
UC Davis Health evaluates and treats children’s speech and language, with a focus on medical needs. You need a doctor’s referral for the first appointment.
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.
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.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
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.
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 that connects to the Pocket Canal Sacramento River Parkway, good for a short walk. 7654 Pocket Road, Sacramento, CA.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
The Sacramento Public Library branch for Pocket and Greenhaven families. It even lends cake pans. 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento, CA 95831.
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.
Pocket families can get a free speech evaluation and practice at home while they wait. Garcia Bend Park on Pocket Road and the library on Gloria Drive are good places to talk and play.
Your child’s age decides your first call. Under 3, call Alta California Regional Center at 916-978-6249 for Early Start. Early Start is California’s program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months, and the evaluation is free. You can call yourself, without a doctor’s note.
From age 3, write to Sacramento City Unified (SCUSD), which serves most Pocket homes. Ask for a speech and language evaluation, and say which languages your child hears at home. UC Davis Health also sees children for speech, with a doctor’s referral for the first visit. Its number is 916-734-6700.
Garcia Bend Park connects to the Pocket Canal Sacramento River Parkway. Walk a short stretch and talk about what moves, like a bike, a bird or a leaf. Say “bike fast” or “bird up,” then wait for your child to answer. A look, a sound or a word all count. Then let your child point to the next thing that moves.
The library is at 7335 Gloria Drive. Show two books and wait for your child to choose. Describe the cover together. Follow their interest and stop whenever they want. Read your child’s favorite again at home that week. The branch even lends cake pans. Bake at home and name each step together: “pour,” “stir,” “hot.”
We last checked these details in October 2026.
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