Frequently asked questions

For parents using OYLA Workbook.

How do OYLA Workbooks work?

Each workbook is built around a specific article in OYLA or OYLA Junior — read the article first, then open the workbook. When you’re done, you take clear photos of the work and upload them to submit. A few Junior workbooks are “check-yourself” quizzes you complete right on screen: you get instant feedback, and nothing is submitted or published.

Can I complete the tasks on paper and then upload photos?

Absolutely. When a workbook has a printable version, you’ll see a “↓ Download OYLA Workbook” button — print it and write your answers right on it. You can also just use your own notebook; some tasks ask for that anyway. When you’ve finished, take clear photos of your work and upload them.

Who can use OYLA Workbook?

Anyone with an OYLA or OYLA Junior subscription. Because children’s privacy comes first, a parent or guardian creates the account, adds a participant’s profile, and gives consent before any work can be submitted — the child never signs up on their own.

Which workbooks can my participant use, and in what order?

Any workbook that matches your participant’s edition — OYLA Junior (ages 6+) or OYLA (ages 12–18) — in any order you like. A Junior participant sees Junior workbooks; an OYLA participant sees OYLA workbooks. Pick whatever sparks their curiosity — there’s no required sequence.

Can I have more than one participant in one account?

Yes — you can add up to six participants to one account. Each has their own profile and needs its own parental consent (a quick email confirmation) before taking part. Add one anytime from My account → Add participant.

What kind of files can I upload?

Photos. Standard image formats all work — JPEG, PNG, WebP, and iPhone HEIC/HEIF straight from your phone. Bright, in-focus photos help our editors the most (each photo can be up to 20 MB).

Can I upload photos from my phone?

Yes. Just make sure you’re signed in on the phone first, then upload straight from your camera roll.

How many photos can I attach to one submission?

Up to five per submission. You can submit each workbook once, so add every photo you’d like reviewed before you send it.

What are the statuses of my participant’s work?

After you submit, you can follow the work in your account:

Submitted — we’ve received it and our editors are reviewing it. Every submission is checked by a person before anything is shown publicly.
Published — it’s live in our online gallery for other families to enjoy.
Printed in the magazine 🎉 — it was chosen for a printed issue (and stays in the gallery too). Congratulations!
Not this time — it wasn’t selected. That’s completely normal; your participant can always submit new work.
Saved (private) — you chose not to publish it, so it stays in your account only.

You may also see “Selected for print ⭐” on some works — a candidate our editors shortlisted.

What’s the difference between “publish” and “keep private”?

You make this choice for each submission, right on the submission form:

Publish — after our review, the work can appear in the online gallery and may be picked for a printed issue. You decide whether your participant’s first name and age are shown, or the work stays anonymous (age only).
Keep private — the work is saved to your account and is never published anywhere. Our editors can still see it (we review everything submitted), but it won’t appear in the gallery or magazine.

You’re always in control: nothing about your participant is published without your permission, and you choose separately for every submission.

Will I be notified?

Yes — by email when your participant’s work is published to the gallery, when it’s printed in an issue, or if it isn’t selected this time. We don’t email the moment you submit: you’ll see “Submitted” in your account right away, and we’ll email you once our editors have reviewed it.

How long does review take?

Our editors review submissions in batches, so it can take a little time — especially right after a new issue comes out and many families submit at once. You’ll see the status update in your account.

When will selected work appear in the magazine?

Being published in the gallery doesn’t guarantee print. We choose printed works from many great submissions, so a piece may appear in an upcoming issue rather than the very next one, and we can’t promise a specific date. When a work is actually printed, its status changes to “Printed in the magazine 🎉” and we’ll email you.

How do you protect my participant’s privacy?

Privacy comes first. You (the parent) create the account and give consent; we collect only the minimum — first name, age, country, and city — never a last name, home address, school, or phone number. Your participant’s city is never shown publicly (only the country may appear as a credit), the gallery is behind a login, and photos are kept in private storage. You can review or delete your participant’s data at any time. See our Privacy Policy for the full details.

I need help — how do I contact you?

We’re happy to help. Email us at info@oyla.us with any questions about your account, a submission, or your participant’s work.