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 will be retired in favor of a separate Children's & Family Emmy Awards ceremony that will be 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! (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)