The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series was an Emmy award given to television programming aimed towards children. Children's television had been recognized at the Emmys since the inaugural year. In 1995, a separate award for pre-school children's television was created, and the two categories had been recognized since then. Starting in 2018, a distinction between children's series and educational series was created, resulting in two separate categories. In November 2021, it was announced that all Daytime Emmy categories honoring children's programming would be retired in favor of a separate Children's & Family Emmy Awards ceremony that was held starting in 2022.
Winners and Nominees Winners in bold
Outstanding Entertainment Children's Series 1974 Zoom (PBS) Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (CBS) Star Trek: The Animated Series (NBC) 1975 Star Trek: The Animated Series (NBC) Captain Kangaroo (CBS) The Pink Panther Show (NBC) 1976 Big Blue Marble (SYN) Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (CBS) Zoom (PBS) 1977 Zoom (PBS) Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Once Upon a Classic ("David Copperfield") (PBS) Once Upon a Classic ("Heidi") (PBS) Once Upon a Classic ("The Prince and the Pauper") (PBS) 1978 Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Once Upon a Classic ("Robin Hood") (PBS) Zoom (PBS) 1979 Kids Are People Too (ABC) Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Once Upon a Classic ("John Halifax, Gentleman") (PBS) Once Upon a Classic ("Lorna Doone") (PBS) Once Upon a Classic ("The Secret Garden") (PBS) 1980 Hot Hero Sandwich (NBC) Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Kids Are People Too (ABC) Once Upon a Classic ("Leatherstocking Tales") (PBS) 1981 Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Once Upon a Classic ("A Tale of Two Cities") (PBS) ABC Weekend Specials (ABC) Once Upon a Classic ("The Legend of King Arthur") (PBS) 1982 Captain Kangaroo (CBS) ABC Weekend Specials (ABC) 1983 Smurfs (NBC) Captain Kangaroo (CBS) 1984 Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Smurfs (NBC)
Outstanding Children's Instructional Programming 1976 Schoolhouse Rock! ("Grammar Rock") (ABC) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Sesame Street (PBS) 1977 Sesame Street (PBS) Villa Alegre (PBS) 1978 Schoolhouse Rock! (ABC) Sesame Street (PBS) 1979 Schoolhouse Rock! ("Science Rock") (ABC) Dear Alex and Annie (ABC) The Metric Marvels (NBC) Sesame Street (PBS)
Outstanding Informational Children's Series 1976 Go (NBC) The Electric Company (PBS) Make a Wish (ABC) 1977 The Electric Company (PBS) ABC Minute Magazine (ABC) Animals, Animals, Animals (ABC) Schoolhouse Rock! (ABC) 1978 Animals, Animals, Animals (ABC) ABC Minute Magazine (ABC) Villa Alegre (PBS) 1979 Big Blue Marble (SYN) ABC Minute Magazine (ABC) 30 Minutes (CBS) Animals, Animals, Animals (ABC) In the News (CBS) NBC Special Treat ("When You Turn Off The Set, Turn On A Book") (NBC)
Outstanding Children's Informational/Instructional Series 1980 Sesame Street (PBS) 30 Minutes (CBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1981 30 Minutes (CBS) Animals, Animals, Animals (ABC) Kids Are People Too (ABC) Sesame Street (PBS) 1982 30 Minutes (CBS) Kids Are People Too (ABC) Sesame Street (PBS) 1983 Sesame Street (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1984 ABC Weekend Special (ABC) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Sesame Street (PBS)
Outstanding Children's Informational/Instructional Programming - Short Form 1980 Ask NBC News (NBC) H.E.L.P! - Dr. Henry's Emergency Lessons for People (ABC) In the News (CBS) Schoolhouse Rock! (ABC) NBC Special Treat ("When You Turn Off The Set, Turn On A Book") (NBC) 1981 ABC Nutrition Spots (ABC) Ask NBC News (NBC) The Doughnuts (ABC) In the News (CBS) 1982 In the News (CBS) Ask NBC News (NBC) Betcha Don't Know (NBC) 1983 In the News (CBS) Willie Survive (ABC) 1984 Young People's Special ("Just Another Stupid Kid") (SYN)
Outstanding Children's Series 1985 Sesame Street (PBS) Kidsworld (ABC) 3-2-1 Contact (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Pryor's Place (CBS) 1986 Sesame Street (PBS) 3-2-1 Contact (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1987 Sesame Street (PBS) 3-2-1 Contact (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS) 1988 Sesame Street (PBS) Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1989 Newton's Apple (PBS) 3-2-1 Contact (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Reading Rainbow (PBS) Sesame Street (PBS) 1990 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Captain Kangaroo (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS) Sesame Street (PBS) 1991 Sesame Street (PBS) Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS) Reading Rainbow (PBS) Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories (Disney Channel) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1992 Sesame Street (PBS) Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Reading Rainbow (PBS) Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) 1993 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Barney & Friends (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Sesame Street (PBS) Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) 1994 Sesame Street (PBS) Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Reading Rainbow (PBS) Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) 1995 Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (SYN) Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) Reading Rainbow (PBS) Bill Nye the Science Guy (PBS) Beakman's World (CBS) 1996 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Bill Nye the Science Guy (PBS) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (SYN) Really Wild Animals (CBS) Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) 1997 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Beakman's World (CBS) Bill Nye the Science Guy (PBS) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (Nickelodeon) Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) 1998 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Beakman's World (CBS) Bill Nye the Science Guy (SYN) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (SYN) Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) 1999 Bill Nye the Science Guy (SYN) Animal Show (FOX) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (SYN) Reading Rainbow (PBS) 2000 Bill Nye the Science Guy (SYN) The Crocodile Hunter (Animal Planet) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (SYN) Saved by the Bell: The New Class (NBC) Zoom (PBS) 2001 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Between the Lions (PBS) Even Stevens (Disney Channel) Real Kids, Real Adventures (Discovery Channel) Zoom (PBS) 2002 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Between the Lions (PBS) Discovery Kids Ultimate Guide to the Awesome (Discovery Kids) Even Stevens (Disney Channel) Zoom (PBS) 2003 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Assignment Discovery (Discovery Channel) Between the Lions (PBS) Even Stevens (Disney Channel) Zoom (PBS) 2004 Assignment Discovery (Discovery Channel) Jeff Corwin Unleashed (NBC) Between the Lions (PBS) Operation Junkyard (NBC) Scout's Safari (NBC) Zoom (PBS) 2005 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Jeff Corwin Unleashed (NBC) Endurance (NBC) Postcards from Buster (PBS) Zoom (PBS) 2006 Zoom (PBS) Endurance (NBC) Between the Lions (PBS) Postcards from Buster (PBS) Strange Days at Blake Holsey High (NBC) 2007 Reading Rainbow (PBS) Assignment Discovery (Discovery Channel) Strange Days at Blake Holsey High (NBC) Endurance (NBC) 2008 Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye (Discovery Channel) Jack Hanna's Into the Wild (SYN) Design Squad (PBS) Postcards from Buster (PBS) 2009 From the Top at Carnegie Hall (PBS) Adventure Camp (Discovery Kids) FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman (PBS) Postcards from Buster (PBS) 2010 The Electric Company (PBS) Design Squad (PBS) FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman (PBS) 2011 The Electric Company (PBS) FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman (PBS) Jack Hanna's Into the Wild (SYN) SciGirls (PBS) 2012 The Electric Company (PBS) Jack Hanna's Into the Wild (SYN) Biz Kid$ (PBS) Born to Explore with Richard Wiese (ABC) Everyday Health (ABC) 2013 R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (The Hub) The Aquabats! Super Show! (The Hub) Everyday Health (ABC) 2014 R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (The Hub) Animal Science (SYN) Game Changers with Kevin Frazier (CBS) Sea Rescue (ABC) 2015 R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (Discovery Family) Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition (SYN) Odd Squad (PBS) Spooksville (Discovery Family) The Wildlife Docs (SYN) 2016 Sea Rescue (SYN) Annedroids (Amazon) Odd Squad (PBS) Project Mc2 (Netflix) The Wildlife Docs (SYN)
Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series 1995 Sesame Street (PBS) Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1996 Sesame Street (PBS) Barney & Friends (PBS) Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1997
Sesame Street (PBS) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1998 Sesame Street (PBS) Bear in the Big Blue House (Disney Channel) Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1999 Sesame Street (PBS) Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Teletubbies (PBS)
2000 Sesame Street (PBS) Bear in the Big Blue House (Disney Channel) Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Teletubbies (PBS) 2001 Sesame Street (PBS) Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon) Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 2002 Sesame Street (PBS) Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon)2003 Sesame Street (PBS) Bear in the Big Blue House (Disney Channel) Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon) 2004 Sesame Street (PBS) Bear in the Big Blue House (Disney Channel) Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon) 2005 Sesame Street (PBS) Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon) Hi-5 (Discovery Kids) 2006 Sesame Street (PBS) Blue's Room (Nickelodeon) Hi-5 (Discovery Kids) The Paz Show (Discovery Kids) 2007 Sesame Street (PBS) Hi-5 (Discovery Kids) Hip Hop Harry (Discovery Kids) It's a Big Big World (PBS) The Paz Show (Discovery Kids) 2008 Sesame Street (PBS) Between the Lions (PBS) Blue's Room (Nickelodeon) Jack's Big Music Show (Noggin) Super Why! (PBS) 2009 Between the Lions (PBS) Johnny and the Sprites (Disney Channel) Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies (PBS) Sesame Street (PBS) Wonder Pets! (Nickelodeon) 2010 Sesame Street (PBS) Between the Lions (PBS) Wonder Pets! (Nickelodeon) 2011 Sesame Street (PBS) Between the Lions (PBS) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Disney Channel) Yo Gabba Gabba! (Nickelodeon) 2012 Sesame Street (PBS) 3rd & Bird (Disney Channel) Super Why! (PBS) Wonder Pets! (Nickelodeon) Yo Gabba Gabba! (Nickelodeon) 2013 Sesame Street (PBS) The Fresh Beat Band (Nickelodeon) Pajanimals (NBC) 2014 Sesame Street (PBS) Dino Dan (Nickelodeon) The Fresh Beat Band (Nickelodeon) Yo Gabba Gabba! (Nickelodeon) 2015 Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures (Nickelodeon) Sesame Street (PBS) Yo Gabba Gabba! (Nickelodeon) 2016 Sesame Street (PBS) Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures (Nickelodeon) Mutt & Stuff (Nickelodeon) Sunny Side Up (Sprout) 2017 Sesame Street (HBO) Bookaboo (Amazon) Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures (Nickelodeon) Mutt & Stuff (Nickelodeon) Sunny Side Up (Sprout) 2018 Sesame Street (HBO) Dino Dana (Amazon) Julie's Greenroom (Netflix) Sprout House (Universal Kids) 2019 Sesame Street (HBO) The Big Fun Crafty Show (Universal Kids) Dino Dana (Amazon) Miss Persona (YouTube.com) Snug's House (Universal Kids) 2020 Sesame Street (HBO)
Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Series 2017 Give (NBC) Annedroids (Amazon) Odd Squad (PBS) This Just In (POP TV) Xploration DIY Sci (SYN) 2018 Free Rein (Netflix) Annedroids (Amazon) Odd Squad (PBS) Top Chef Junior (Universal Kids) Nat Geo Kids Block (Nat Geo)
2019 Odd Squad (PBS) American Ninja Warrior Junior (Universal Kids) Chicken Soup for The Soul's Hidden Heroes (The CW) Top Chef Junior (Universal Kids) The Who Was? Show (Netflix)
Outstanding Education or Informational Series 2018 Giver (ION Television) Mind Field (YouTube RED) Sea Rescue (SYN) The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation (CBS) Xploration DIY Sci (SYN) Xploration Outer Space (SYN)
2019 Weird but True! (National Geographic Kids)
Multiple wins 33 wins Sesame Street
10 wins Reading Rainbow
5 wins Captain Kangaroo
3 wins 30 Minutes R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour