Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In San Francisco, 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. Contact Golden Gate Regional Center and ask for an evaluation for your child.
SFUSD evaluates preschool children ages 3 to 5 who live in San Francisco. Fill in the district’s preschool request form to ask for a speech evaluation.
Graduate students evaluate and treat children’s speech and language, supervised by licensed faculty. Apply on the clinic’s website or call to ask about openings.
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.
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.
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.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
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.
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 neighborhood playground with an accessible children’s play area, right next to Ortega Branch Library. 3225 Ortega Street, San Francisco, CA.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
A branch with children’s books, Chinese and Russian materials and a seed lending library. 3223 Ortega Street, San Francisco, CA 94122.
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 the Outer Sunset, you can get a free speech evaluation and practice talking close to home. Ortega Branch Library and West Sunset Playground sit side by side on Ortega Street.
If your child is under 3, contact Golden Gate Regional Center about Early Start. It is California’s early intervention program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. You can call yourself, and the evaluation is free. From age 3 to 5, SFUSD, the city’s public school district, evaluates preschool children through its preschool request form. School speech services are free if your child qualifies. Before you call, write down how your child asks for things. Mention the languages you speak at home, too.
West Sunset Playground is at 3225 Ortega Street, right next to the library. It has an accessible children’s play area. Play a noticing game as you walk in. Look for one color, one sound or one moving thing. Say a short phrase, like “red car” or “dog barks,” then pause. Give your child time to add their own word.
Ortega Branch Library is at 3223 Ortega Street. It has children’s books, books in Chinese and Russian, and even a seed library. Give the visit one small goal, like finding a new favorite book. Hold up two covers and wait for your child to choose. Talk about the picture they picked. You can finish the story at home. Library staff can tell you when the next storytime for little kids is.
We last checked these details in October 2026.
Find help
.jpg){kind=link}