Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In San Diego, 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 San Diego Regional Center’s Early Start line or apply online to ask for an evaluation.
From age 3, your school district can evaluate your child’s speech, even before kindergarten. Find your district by address with the county school finder, then write to it.
Rady’s speech-language team evaluates children’s speech and language. You share what you notice at home, and the therapist watches how your child communicates.
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.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
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.
NoelleMom, sister of a speech therapistMy sister is an SLP, and she actually told us to download this app for my kid.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
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.
ChristinaMom of EdenWe aren't completely there, but we're closer than we ever have been.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
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 community park in Los Peñasquitos Canyon with a playground and sports fields.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
The San Diego Public Library branch in Rancho Peñasquitos, with picture books to borrow for home.
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.
Rancho Peñasquitos families can get a free speech evaluation and practice at home in the meantime. Canyonside Recreation Center and the Rancho Peñasquitos library are good places to talk and play together.
Your child’s age decides your first call. Under 3, call San Diego Regional Center at 858-496-4318 and ask for an Early Start evaluation. Early Start is California’s program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. The evaluation is free, and no doctor’s note is needed.
From age 3, ask your public school district for a free evaluation. Look up your district by address with the county school finder. Then send a short note asking for a speech and language evaluation. Before you call, think of one or two moments that worried you, like mealtime or play.
Lois J. Mangarelli (Canyonside) Recreation Center sits in a community park in Los Peñasquitos Canyon. It has a playground and sports fields. On the way to the playground, collect a few leaves or rocks. Count them together: “one rock, two rocks.” Then line them up and let your child say “more” or “done.” Count them again before you go home.
Show your child two books and wait for them to choose. Look at the cover together and name one thing. Then let your child decide how many pages to read. Stopping early is fine. Take the book home and read it again whenever your child asks. Children often join in once they know a book well.
We last checked these details in October 2026.
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