Autism Family Resource

Holiday shopping can feel overwhelming, especially when parents want gifts that are both fun and supportive for their child's development. In this solo episode of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast, occupational therapist Brian Keene shares practical developmental gift ideas for neurodivergent children across a variety of budgets and interests.

Brian breaks his recommendations into four categories: sensory tools, STEM projects, tablet and communication apps, and meaningful family experiences. Throughout the episode, he explains how certain toys, activities, and tools can support sensory regulation, creativity, communication, problem-solving, motor skills, and family connection.

Families will hear recommendations ranging from weighted blankets and kinetic sand to coding kits, visual schedule apps, and hands-on family activities that create lasting memories.

This episode offers realistic and supportive ideas designed to help parents choose gifts that encourage participation, regulation, learning, and joyful connection during the holiday season and beyond.

Topics Covered

• Sensory-friendly gift ideas • Weighted blankets and sensory tools • STEM toys and hands-on learning • Coding kits and science projects • Communication and visual schedule apps • Social stories for children • Sensory-friendly apps and activities • Creating meaningful family experiences

Memorable Quote

"When I think about my best memories as a child, I think about things I did outside."

About the Host

Brian Keene is the host of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy. He is a pediatric occupational therapist who supports neurodivergent children and families throughout Arizona using neurodiversity-affirming and family-centered approaches.

Pure Hearts Therapy provides home-based occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and family-centered support services for neurodivergent children and families.

Resources Mentioned

Autism Community Store https://autismcommunitystore.com

DIY Network weighted blanket tutorial

StemGeek.com

Proloquo2Go app

Otsimo app

iCreate Social Stories app

First Then Visual Schedule app

Sensory Light Box app

Weighted blankets

Water beads

Kinetic sand

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast: https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at: https://pureheartstherapy.com

Helping a child learn at home can sometimes feel overwhelming for parents and caregivers, especially when children become frustrated, resistant, distracted, or emotionally overwhelmed during learning activities. In this solo episode of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast, occupational therapist Brian Keene shares practical strategies families can use to create more supportive and effective learning environments at home.

Brian explains how learning is deeply connected to a child's emotional state, sensory needs, interests, motivation, sleep, and overall environment. Using concepts inspired by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, he walks families through a practical "learning needs assessment" to help parents better understand what may be helping or interfering with their child's ability to learn.

Throughout the episode, Brian shares examples of how parents can make learning more collaborative, playful, motivating, and sensory-supportive while reducing overwhelm and frustration.

This episode offers realistic and encouraging strategies families can begin using immediately during homework, routines, therapy carryover, and everyday life learning opportunities.

Topics Covered

• Supporting learning at home • Creating positive learning environments • Sensory processing and learning • Sleep, hunger, and emotional regulation • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs • Motivation and child interests • Making learning playful and collaborative • The "just right" level of challenge

Memorable Quote

"We need to begin to create a learning environment that is fun and enjoyable."

About the Host

Brian Keene is the host of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy. He is a pediatric occupational therapist who supports neurodivergent children and families throughout Arizona using neurodiversity-affirming and family-centered approaches.

Pure Hearts Therapy provides home-based occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and family-centered support services for neurodivergent children and families.

Resources Mentioned

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Backward chaining strategy

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast: https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at: https://pureheartstherapy.com

Cooking with children can be so much more than simply preparing meals. In this solo episode of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast, occupational therapist Brian Keene shares how cooking activities can support learning, sensory exploration, executive functioning, confidence, creativity, and family connection for neurodivergent children.

Brian explains how cooking naturally creates opportunities for children to practice important life skills while also helping families build positive routines together at home. He discusses how cooking can support picky eaters and sensory exploration through playful food exposure while also strengthening executive functioning skills such as planning, sequencing, organization, attention, and problem-solving.

Throughout the episode, Brian shares practical ideas for making cooking activities fun, engaging, and developmentally appropriate for children at different ages and ability levels. Families will hear strategies for starting small, supporting safety, using favorite interests creatively, and gradually increasing independence over time.

This episode offers realistic and encouraging ways to turn everyday cooking activities into meaningful opportunities for learning, connection, and participation.

Topics Covered

• Cooking as a developmental activity • Picky eating and food exposure • Sensory processing and food exploration • Executive functioning skills • Building life skills and independence • Creating fun family routines • Adapting cooking for different ages • Encouraging creativity and flexibility

Memorable Quote

"We learn best when we find the learning experience to be enjoyable."

About the Host

Brian Keene is the host of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy. He is a pediatric occupational therapist who supports neurodivergent children and families throughout Arizona using neurodiversity-affirming and family-centered approaches.

Pure Hearts Therapy provides home-based occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and family-centered support services for neurodivergent children and families.

Resources Mentioned

Minecraft-themed cooking ideas

Air fryer cooking safety suggestions

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast: https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at: https://pureheartstherapy.com

Caregiver burnout is real, and many parents of neurodivergent children spend so much time supporting everyone else that their own needs slowly move to the bottom of the list. In this solo episode of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast, occupational therapist Brian Keene shares practical and realistic self-care strategies designed specifically for overwhelmed caregivers and parents.

Brian discusses what caregiver burnout can look like emotionally, physically, and mentally while emphasizing that self-care does not need to be complicated or time-consuming to be meaningful. He introduces a simple reflective exercise to help parents identify important areas of their lives, evaluate their current satisfaction levels, and begin building realistic habits that support balance and sustainability.

Throughout the conversation, Brian encourages parents to focus on small, manageable changes rather than perfection while building routines that align with their personal values and long-term wellbeing.

This episode offers compassionate and practical support for caregivers who want to feel more present, energized, and emotionally supported while caring for their families.

Topics Covered

• Understanding caregiver burnout • Why self-care matters for parents • Identifying personal values and priorities • Building realistic self-care habits • Goal-setting and accountability strategies • Creating sustainable routines • Preventing overwhelm and burnout • Reflecting on progress with compassion

Memorable Quote

"You can't pour from an empty cup."

About the Host

Brian Keene is the host of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy. He is a pediatric occupational therapist who supports neurodivergent children and families throughout Arizona using neurodiversity-affirming and family-centered approaches.

Pure Hearts Therapy provides home-based occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and family-centered support services for neurodivergent children and families.

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast: https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at: https://pureheartstherapy.com

If you're a parent or caregiver who feels overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure if you're doing the "right" thing for your child… you are not alone.

Maybe you've been to countless therapy appointments. Maybe you've tried strategies that didn't fit your family. Maybe you're tired of feeling like everything is a battle. Or maybe you're simply looking for support that feels realistic, compassionate, and actually helpful.

Welcome to the Autism Family Resource Podcast.

I'm Brian Keene, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy in Phoenix, Arizona. Through my work with neurodivergent children and families, I kept noticing the same thing:

Most parents are already overwhelmed.

Between school, therapies, routines, emotional regulation, sensory needs, and everyday life, families often don't need more pressure or complicated programs. They need support that fits into real life.

That's why I created this podcast.

The Autism Family Resource Podcast is designed to provide short, practical, and neurodiversity-affirming conversations that help families support their children while also supporting themselves along the way.

This podcast is rooted in one simple belief:

Your child deserves to be understood, not fixed.

Every two weeks, we'll explore topics related to autism, ADHD, sensory processing, emotional regulation, communication, executive functioning, school challenges, parenting stress, meltdowns, routines, community safety, self-care, and everyday family life.

You'll hear conversations with: • Occupational therapists • Speech therapists • Physical therapists • Autistic individuals • Parents and caregivers • Educators • Advocates • Mental health professionals • Other experts supporting neurodivergent families

But more importantly, you'll hear honest conversations about what actually helps.

Some episodes will focus on practical strategies you can start using immediately. Others will help parents better understand the emotional experiences, sensory needs, and perspectives of neurodivergent children and adults.

This is not a podcast about "fixing" children or chasing perfection.

It's about helping families feel: • More connected • More supported • More informed • Less alone

Whether you're newly navigating a diagnosis or have been supporting your child for years, this podcast is here to walk alongside you.

Thank you for being here. I truly hope these conversations help your family feel more understood, empowered, and supported one step at a time.

New episodes are released every other Wednesday.

Subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast on: • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Stitcher • And wherever you listen to podcasts

Pure Hearts Therapy https://pureheartstherapy.com

Facebook Autism Family Resource Podcast

Instagram @pureheartstherapy

Brian Keene, OTD, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing home-based and virtual services for children and families in Arizona.

Through his clinical work, podcast, and community outreach, Brian is passionate about helping neurodivergent children and families build meaningful lives through connection, participation, regulation, and practical everyday support.

Welcome to the Autism Family Resource Podcast.

This short trailer will give you a quick overview of what the podcast is about and who it is for.

Hosted by Brian Keene, pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, this podcast was created for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent children who want practical tools they can use in everyday life.

Each episode focuses on topics such as:

• sensory processing and regulation • communication and executive functioning • meltdowns and emotional regulation • parenting strategies and routines • therapy insights from occupational therapists and other professionals • real resources that support families navigating autism

Episodes are designed to be short, practical, and immediately useful for busy families.

If you're raising a neurodivergent child and looking for support, strategies, and encouragement along the way, you're in the right place.

Subscribe now so you don't miss upcoming episodes.