Clicker is fab, though we use a word rather than a clicker. Once they get the hang of what you want you introduce a hand signal and a verbal command. They are pretty easy to train as they often have the poodle intelligence and the lab's fondness of food (though mine isn't fussed about meals very often which I've been told is a poodle trait).
They do need a lot of stimulation generally to keep them busy or they find their own things to do and may do that anyway despite training and exercise. Exercise needs to be limited to 5 mins per month of life per day, so my 10 month old is on 50 mins. That isn't enough to wear them out so the training contributes to this.
They generally are pretty bouncy pups so you do need to be firm and not let them get away with things l, especially round children as they can easily knock them over by accident by being over bouncy. They can also be a bit of a nightmare for jumping up whilst young which is hard work on the training front, but they do gradually stop. Those are generalisations and it depends on the dog, some are more chilled than others.
Mind came crate trained and goes in at night with a blanket over. She has never been keen to go in during the day unless she has found something she shouldn't and if you look on Slubber's thread (Tulpe and other new puppy owners I think it is) there's a list of things she has eaten, though most have happened when we are home, cooking or something. With hindsight though possibly we could have used the crate a little more.
Everyone I have met have had lovely temperaments are fab with children once over their initial bouncy stage, I'm sure you will have a lot of fun.