Breadcrumbs Heart-Centered Tools: Helping Children Navigate Life’s Ups and Downs

Children learn by example. This is known as observational learning or modeling. When we’re mindful of the little hearts and minds in our midst, we can make choices about managing our own stress- which serves as powerful examples to children. Of course, it’s unrealistic to imagine that you will never be triggered and wish you’d responded differently. These too are “teachable moments” to reflect on how you may have responded more appropriately using a different set of tools. Asking children for advice and support is often instructive for caregivers and empowering for children. 

First, what does SEL stand for? It stands for Social and Emotional Learning. SEL is an intentional way of supporting children as they develop emotional awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and a deep connection to themselves and those around them.

Breadcrumbs is about filling an SEL Toolbox with practices designed to respond optimally to life’s inevitable challenges. Ours is not to alter the inevitable waves of ups and downs that are the essence of life. Ours is to offer children tools to navigate the waters with as much ease and flow as possible. Each lesson of the Breadcrumbs Curriculum is designed to help children recognize when they are “Upset” and offer them another tool to return to their natural, peaceful “Pre-Set” with ease and flow.

The Three Powerful Tools

Breadcrumbs begins by introducing the children to the “Three Powerful Tools.”

• Heart-Centered Breathing
• Labyrinth Time
• Heart-Centered Reflection

In addition to Heart-Centered Breathing and “taking time-out for time-in” in the Labyrinth, one of the most powerful tools we offer is Heart-Centered Reflection. With Heart-Centered Reflection, children come to know and trust that their hearts will never counsel them to do or say anything unkind or harmful to themselves or another.

The heart is literally a trusted source of infinite kindness, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, and peace. Your heart is quite literally the Treasure in your Chest.

The Stop & Drop Method

Children love the “Stop & Drop” method of making choices and evaluating behaviors.

This little sign is a gentle reminder to STOP and DROP into your heart as means of evaluating an action or an exchange. (Optimally this technique will be employed before taking action to avoid an unfortunate choice, but it is equally impactful as a follow-up.) Ask yourself:

Is this idea unkind to myself or another?
Is this idea potentially harmful to myself or another?

If the answer to both questions is “NO”, then it’s a “GO”!

Example: A child feels like grabbing a toy from a friend. By Stop & Drop, they pause, check their heart, and choose a kind action instead.

Modeling Heart-Centered Behavior

Children learn best when they see adults practicing what they teach. By being mindful of your own stress and responses, you provide a living example for children of how to navigate emotions effectively. Even when triggered, these moments become teachable opportunities for reflection and modeling alternative responses.