Review Overview > Detailed Review

Detailed Review of "The Enchanted Forest"

*The following appeared in the REACH Journal of Special Needs Education in Ireland, Vol. 18 No. 1 (2004)

Reviewed by KITTY CRONIN, Remedial Teacher
Scoil an Athar Tadhg, Carraig na bhFear, Co Cork, Ireland

I first came across The Enchanted Forest CD at last year's I.A.T.S.E. special needs conference, when I attended a workshop presented by Rosaleen Durkin and Paul Lynch. It was being promoted as a new audio programme, which was designed to encourage visualisation, relaxation, creativity and self-esteem.

On an impulse I decided to purchase it as I felt it potentially might be useful with some of the children that I teach.

According to the little booklet that accompanies it, "The Enchanted Forest is an Imagination Gym.

It can be used by both adults and children to develop a fitter imagination." It is recommended to be used three times a week because "like a regular gym, the more you use it, the fitter you become."

During the past two years I have been taking a group of seven boys aged 11-12 for an hour of English every day. They are presently in sixth class and their disabilities include ADHD, Asperger's and Down syndrome, mild general learning disability, specific learning disability, developmental co-ordination disorder, and speech and language disorder.

In accordance with the instructions in the booklet, which accompanies the CD, I first of all set out the "golden guidelines" for using Imagination Gym.

I told the boys that we were going to listen to a CD of soft, relaxing music and a story that they would have to picture in their minds. There was no right or wrong way to listen to it and when it was over they did not have to discuss the story with anyone if they did not want to.

We then went on to discuss the ways in which we could make our environment more conducive to listening. The boys themselves came up with the idea of closing the blinds, turning off the lights and putting a "do not disturb" sign on the door. They also decided that it might be better if they lie on the floor (luckily I had brought cushions for each child) and close their eyes.

I warned the boys that the "audio programme may lead to feelings of relaxation or tiredness" and not to worry if they felt like going to sleep.

They might also experience certain emotions such as sadness, happiness or fear while listening to the programme. The CD lasts for half an hour. During that time a soothing voice brings the listener on a journey through an enchanted forest.

The story is open-ended and the listener is encouraged to make decisions about who comes with them and what they are wearing and so on. They meet a fairy who grants them three wishes and they call to a cottage where they meet a "friend" who gives them a present.

The boys got right into the mood of the CD immediately. They listened without moving or fidgeting for the full 30 minutes. When it was over I asked them for their honest and immediate response to what they had just heard. One boy in particular appeared to have had a very deep emotional response to it.

He stated that "his head was wrecked", that his body had felt soft and weightless and that when it was over he felt as though he was waking from a deep sleep. Another boy felt that he had fallen asleep.

Another boy admitted that he had felt very tense and anxious when it started but as the story progressed he had felt himself becoming more comfortable and relaxed.

All the boys loved the music and they all wanted to hear it again.

I was impressed with the amount of detail that the boys could recall after the first session, which proved that they had listened very attentively. Some of the boys found it easy to get "pictures" in their minds and some found it quite difficult but they all appeared to have enjoyed it. After a couple of sessions their imaginations were certainly stimulated and they responded enthusiastically each time.

The quality of the CD is excellent and the background forest sounds are very realistic and easy to identify. The atmosphere of the forest is very authentic and with your eyes closed it is indeed easy to imagine yourself walking down an overgrown woodland path.

On the whole, although I found the CD very useful as a form of relaxation and visualisation, I had some reservations. I would strongly suggest that it should be used in a controlled manner. The environment should be very safe. There should be no fear of anyone being mocked and confidentiality should be stressed at all times as it is quite possible that a child might reveal something of a personal nature immediately after a session.

I was a bit perturbed at the depth of response to it by two of my pupils. It appeared to touch them at a deep emotional level and I was uneasy moving on to an English reading class immediately after stirring such emotions.

It is recommended in the booklet to use the CD three times a week, to "really get in shape".

I would highly recommend "The Enchanted Forest" for use in small groups only and in a carefully monitored environment, where the children's reactions can be observed and dealt with as they arise.