6 | Improving Sleep in Autism & Neurodivergent Children | Brian Keene

Sleep impacts nearly every part of a child's development, including attention, emotional regulation, learning, memory, physical health, and overall wellbeing. Yet many neurodivergent children struggle with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking feeling rested. In this solo episode of the Autism Family Toolkit Podcast, occupational therapist Brian Keene discusses how sleep affects child development and shares practical, family-friendly strategies to improve sleep hygiene and bedtime routines for neurodivergent children. Brian explains how sensory differences, stress levels, environmental factors, screen time, nutrition, and routines can all influence sleep quality. He also introduces a practical sleep journal tool families can use to identify patterns and better understand what may be helping or disrupting their child's sleep. This episode offers supportive and realistic strategies families can begin implementing immediately to improve bedtime routines, reduce sleep disruptions, and support healthier regulation throughout the day. Topics Covered • Why sleep is important for child development • Sleep challenges in neurodivergent children • Sensory processing and sleep • Creating healthy sleep hygiene routines • Bedtime routines and environmental supports • Screen time and blue light effects • Nutrition and sleep quality • Using a sleep journal to identify patterns Memorable Quote "Sleep is one of the most important things we do every day and has the ability to impact every aspect of our lives." 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 Moshi app Calm app Headspace app White noise machines Weighted blankets Sleep Better app Snore Track app 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