The Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs is one of the annual Directors Guild of America Awards given by the Directors Guild of America (DGA). It was first awarded at the 49th Directors Guild of America Awards in 1997. Before 1996, most children's programs competed in the Drama Show Day category before it retired in 1994.
In July 2025, the DGA announced that the Children's Programs category would no longer be presented due to "an increasing decline in submissions", making the 77th Directors Guild of America Awards the final ceremony to feature it.
Winners and nominees 1990s Year Program Winners and nominees Network 1996(49th) Salt Water Moose Stuart Margolin ShowtimeABC Afterschool Special (Episode: "Educating Mom") Kristoffer Tabori ABCBailey Kipper's P.O.V. (Episode: "Talk Ain't Cheap") Arthur Albert CBSRobin of Locksley Michael Kennedy ShowtimeSports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal (Episode: "4 Points") Brian Robbins Nickelodeon 1997(50th) Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal (Episode: "First Time") || style="background:#FAEB86;" | Brian Robbins || style="background:#FAEB86;" |Nickelodeon| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| |- |Goosebumps (Episode: "The Perfect School") || Ron Oliver || Fox |- |Kenan & Kel (Episode: "Haven't Got Time for the Paint") || Howard Storm || rowspan=2| Nickelodeon |- |The Secret World of Alex Mack (Episode: "Lies and Secrets") || Shawn Levy |- |The Wonderful World of Disney (Episode: "Toothless") || Melanie Mayron || ABC |- | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| 1998(51st) ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | Bear in the Big Blue House (Episode: "Love is All You Need") || style="background:#FAEB86;" | Mitchell Kriegman || style="background:#FAEB86;" |Disney Channel| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| |- |Goosebumps (Episode: "Cry of the Cat") || Ron Oliver || Fox |- |Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (Episode: "From Honey with Love") || Victoria Hochberg || First-run syndication |- |The Sweetest Gift || Stuart Margolin || Showtime |- |The Teen Files (Episode: "Smoking: Truth or Dare") || Allison Grodner || First-run syndication |- | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| 1999(52nd) ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepy Time Tales Amy Schatz HBOBear in the Big Blue House (Episode: "A Berry Merry Christmas") Mitchell Kriegman Disney ChannelCinderElmo Bruce Leddy FoxCousin Skeeter (Episode: "Dirty Laundry") Jonathan Winfrey NickelodeonThe Wonderful World of Disney (Episode: "H-E Double Hockey Sticks") Randall Miller ABC
2000s Year Program Winners and nominees Network 2000(53rd) Miracle in Lane 2 Greg Beeman Disney ChannelEven Stevens (Episode: "Easy Way") Sean McNamara Disney ChannelEven Stevens (Episode: "Take My Sister...Please") Paul HoenThe Color of Friendship Kevin HooksThe Wonderful World of Disney (Episode: "Santa Who?") William Dear ABC 2001(54th) 'Twas the Night: A Holiday Celebration Amy Schatz HBOEven Stevens (Episode: "Very Scary Story") Sean McNamara Disney ChannelMy Louisiana Sky Adam Arkin ShowtimeThey Call Me Sirr Robert MunicWalter and Henry Daniel Petrie 2002(55th) Bang Bang You're Dead Guy Ferland ShowtimeEven Stevens (Episode: "Band on the Roof") Gregory Hobson Disney ChannelI Was a Teenage Faust Thom Eberhardt ShowtimeA Ring of Endless Light Greg Beeman Disney ChannelThrough a Child's Eyes: September 11, 2001 Amy Schatz HBO 2003(56th) The Wonderful World of Disney (Episode: "Eloise at Christmastime") || style="background:#FAEB86;" | Kevin Lima || style="background:#FAEB86;" |ABC| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| |- |The Cheetah Girls || Oz Scott || rowspan=2|Disney Channel |- |The Even Stevens Movie || Sean McNamara |- |The Wonderful World of Disney (Episode: "Sounder") || Kevin Hooks || ABC |- |A Time for Dancing || Peter Gilbert || Showtime |- | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| 2004(57th) || style="background:#FAEB86;" | Going to the Mat Stuart Gillard Disney ChannelCrown Heights Jeremy Kagan ShowtimeJack Lee RoseSearching for David's Heart Paul Hoen ABC FamilyTiger Cruise Duwayne Dunham Disney Channel 2005(58th) Edge of America Chris Eyre Showtime Buffalo Dreams David Jackson Disney ChannelFlight 29 Down (Episode: "The Pits") D. J. MacHale NBCI Have Tourette's but Tourette's Doesn't Have Me Ellen Goosenberg Kent HBOSpeak Jessica Sharzer Showtime 2006(59th) High School Musical Kenny Ortega Disney ChannelThe Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold Sean McNamara ABC FamilyMolly: An American Girl on the Home Front Joyce Chopra Disney ChannelPhil of the Future (Episode: "Not So Great Great Great Grandpa") Fred SavageThe Year Without a Santa Claus Ron Underwood NBC 2007(60th) Jump In! Paul Hoen Disney ChannelGoingGreen: Every Home an Eco-Home Judith Vogelsang PBSHigh School Musical 2 Kenny Ortega Disney ChannelLincoln Heights (Episode: "That Feeling We Have") Andy Wolk ABC FamilyWizards of Waverly Place (Episode: "The Crazy 10-Minute Sale") Fred Savage Disney Channel 2008(61st) Classical Baby (Episode: "The Poetry Show") || style="background:#FAEB86;" | Amy Schatz || style="background:#FAEB86;" |HBO| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| |- |The American Mall || Shawn Ku || MTV |- |Camp Rock || Matthew Diamond || rowspan=3|Disney Channel |- |The Cheetah Girls: One World || Paul Hoen |- |Minutemen|| Lev L. Spiro |- | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| 2009(62nd) ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | Princess Protection Program Allison Liddi-Brown Disney ChannelAn American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong Martha Coolidge HBOZeke and Luther (Episode: "Pilot") Fred Savage Disney XDHard Times for an American Girl: The Great Depression Amy Schatz HBOLincoln Heights (Episode: "Time To Let Go") Andy Wolk ABC Family
2010s Year Program Winners and nominees Network 2010(63rd) The Boy Who Cried Werewolf Eric Bross NickelodeonAvalon High Stuart Gillard Disney ChannelCamp Rock 2: The Final Jam Paul HoenSecrets of the Mountain Douglas Barr NBCStarStruck Michael Grossman Disney ChannelUnnatural History (Episode: "Pilot") Mikael Salomon Cartoon Network 2011(64th) A Child's Garden of Poetry Amy Schatz HBOBest Player Damon Santostefano NickelodeonFred 2: Night of the Living Fred John Fortenberry Geek Charming Jeffrey Hornaday Disney ChannelLemonade Mouth Patricia RiggenSharpay's Fabulous Adventure Michael Lembeck 2012(65th) Let It Shine Paul Hoen Disney ChannelBig Time Movie Savage Steve Holland NickelodeonDon't Divorce Me! Kids' Rules for Parents on Divorce Amy Schatz HBOFred 3: Camp Fred Jonathan Judge NickelodeonGirl vs. Monster Stuart Gillard Disney Channel 2013(66th) An Apology to Elephants Amy Schatz HBOA.N.T. Farm (Episode: "influANTces") Adam Weissman Disney ChannelJinxed Stephen Herek NickelodeonSwindle Jonathan JudgeTeen Beach Movie Jeffrey Hornaday Disney Channel 2014(67th) 100 Things to Do Before High School (Episode: "Pilot") || style="background:#FAEB86;" | Jonathan Judge || style="background:#FAEB86;" |Nickelodeon| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| |- |An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight || Vince Marcello || rowspan=2|Disney Channel |- |How to Build a Better Boy || Paul Hoen |- |Saving My Tomorrow (Episodes: "Part 1" and "Part 2") || Amy Schatz || HBO |- |Sesame Street (Episode: "4504 Numericon") || Joey Mazzarino || PBS |- | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| 2015(68th) || style="background:#FAEB86;" | Descendants Kenny Ortega Disney ChannelGortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street (Episode: "Gortimer and the Vengeful Violinist") Sasie Sealy AmazonInvisible Sister Paul Hoen Disney ChannelSaving My Tomorrow (Episode: "Part 3") Amy Schatz HBOSesame Street (Episode: "The Cookie Thief") Joey Mazzarino PBS 2016(69th) An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win Tina Mabry AmazonAdventures in Babysitting John Schultz Disney ChannelGortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street (Episode: "Gortimer and the Jacks of All Trades") Alethea Jones AmazonThe Kicks (Episode: "Pilot") Liz Allen A Nutcracker Christmas Michael Lembeck Hallmark Channel 2017(70th) Anne with an E (Episode: "Your Will Shall Decide Your Destiny") || style="background:#FAEB86;" | Niki Caro || style="background:#FAEB86;" |Netflix| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| |- |15: A Quinceañera Story: Zoey || Matthew O'Neill and Thalia Sodi || HBO |- |An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life || Alison McDonald || rowspan=2|Amazon |- |Just Add Magic (Episode: "Just Add Meddling") || Lily Mariye |- |The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special || Benjamin Lehmann || HBO |- | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| 2018(71st) || style="background:#FAEB86;" | When You Wish Upon a Pickle: A Sesame Street Special Jack Jameson HBO The Dangerous Book for Boys (Episode: "How to Walk on the Moon") Greg Mottola AmazonA Series of Unfortunate Events (Episode: "The Ersatz Elevator: Part 1") Bo Welch NetflixA Series of Unfortunate Events (Episode: "The Hostile Hospital: Part 1") Allan ArkushA Series of Unfortunate Events (Episode: "The Vile Village: Part 1") Barry Sonnenfeld 2019(72nd) Song of Parkland Amy Schatz HBO Are You Afraid of the Dark? (Episode: "Part One: Submitted for Your Approval") Dean Israelite Nickelodeon Ghostwriter (Episode: "Ghost in Wonderland: Part 1") Luke Matheny Apple TV+A Series of Unfortunate Events (Episode: "Penultimate Peril: Part 1") Barry Sonnenfeld NetflixSesame Street's 50th Anniversary Special Jack Jameson HBO
2020s Year Program Winners and nominees Network 2020(73rd) We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest Amy Schatz HBOThe Astronauts (Episode: "Countdown") Dean Israelite Nickelodeon The Healing Powers of Dude (Episode: "Second Step: Homeroom") Richie Keen Netflix High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Episode: "Opening Night") Kabir Akhtar Disney+On Pointe (Episode: "Showtime!") Larissa Bills 2021(74th) Through Our Eyes (Episode: "Shelter") ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | Smriti Mundhra ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | HBO Max| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| |- | Are You Afraid of the Dark? (Episode: "The Tale of the Darkhouse") || Jeff Wadlow || Nickelodeon |- | Head of the Class (Episode: "Three More Years") || Phill Lewis || HBO Max |- | The J Team || Michael Lembeck || Paramount+ |- |The Mysterious Benedict Society (Episode: "A Bunch of Smart Orphans") || James Bobin || Disney+ |- | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| 2022(75th) ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | Best Foot Forward (Episode: "Halloween") ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | Anne Renton ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | Apple TV+| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| |- | Amber Brown (Episode: "I, Amber Brown") || Bonnie Hunt || Apple TV+ |- | Are You Afraid of the Dark? (Episode: "The Tale of Room 13") || Dean Israelite || Nickelodeon |- |Better Nate Than Ever || Tim Federle || Disney+ |- |Snow Day || Michael Lembeck || Paramount+ |- | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| 2023(76th) ||style="background:#FAEB86;" | Stand Up & Shout: Songs from a Philly High School Amy Schatz HBO American Born Chinese (Episode: "A Monkey on a Quest") Dinh Thai Disney+ American Born Chinese (Episode: "What Guy Are You") Destin Daniel Cretton Goosebumps (Episode: "Say Cheese and Die") Rob Letterman Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Episode: "I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher") James Bobin 2024(77th) Out of My Mind Amber Sealey Disney+ Avatar: The Last Airbender (Episode: "Aang") Michael Goi Netflix Descendants: The Rise of Red Jennifer Phang Disney+ The Spiderwick Chronicles (Episode: "Welcome to Spiderwick") Kat Coiro Roku Channel Sweet Tooth (Episode: "This Is a Story") Jim Mickle Netflix
Programs with multiple nominations 5 nominations The Wonderful World of Disney
4 nominations Even Stevens A Series of Unfortunate Events
3 nominations Are You Afraid of the Dark?
2 nominations American Born Chinese Bear in the Big Blue House Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street Goosebumps Lincoln Heights