[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3504]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING THE LEARNING TRAIN

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, American small businesses across 
the country possess the ability to recognize and fill unique service 
gaps in their local towns and cities. This is especially important when 
these small businesses work with the children in our communities. Such 
is the case with this week's Small Business of the Week, The Learning 
Train, located in Lafayette, LA.
  Keri and Matt Hebert opened The Learning Train as a way to promote 
the physical, emotional, educational, and social development of 
children aged 6 months to 4 years old through a variety of weekly 
classes and camps. A mother of two, Mrs. Hebert designed The Learning 
Train to offer small group classes that promote learning and bonding 
between parents and their children. A typical 45-minute session at the 
center provides children and their parents with a safe, fun space to 
hone age-appropriate developmental skills through enjoyable playtime 
with peers. The center's structured learning activities aid in 
developing crucial skills, including symbolic thinking, active 
listening, problem solving, and knowledge retention.
  In addition to the sharpening of technical skills, children are 
afforded quality time strengthening and developing healthy social 
bonds, as well. Having spent thirteen years as an educator, Mrs. Hebert 
noticed a growing need for a safe, fun environment for young children 
to be nurtured. She maintains that a child's time spent playing with 
their guardian reinforces social development and builds trust between 
the two. The Learning Center's diverse classes provide ample space, 
opportunity, and variety to reinforce bonds between a child's parents 
as well as with their peers. Since its establishment in 2013, the 
Learning Train also regularly partners with local organizations to give 
back to their community, including participating in food drives.
  I am honored to recognize a business that provides the high quality 
care and attention that our future generations deserve. Congratulations 
again to The Learning Train for being selected as Small Business of the 
Week, and I thank them for the important work they do for the families 
and children in the Lafayette region.

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