# Expressive 3D-Printed Figures Solobo Emotion Friends Help Kids Explore Feelings Through Play By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2025-12-11 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solobo-emotion-friends References: [today](https://www.today.com/shop/hot-holiday-toys-2025-rcna232902) & [solobotoys](https://solobotoys.com/en-ca/products/emotion-friends)  Solobo Emotion Friends is a line of colorful, 3D-printed figures, each of which represents a different feeling to help kids recognize and express how they feel through play. Thanks to lay-flat designs that also stand on their own, Solobo Emotion Friends can be stacked, lined up, sorted by color, or paired with other resources to encourage productive, healthy conversations and emotional development. Made with durable, child-safe biodegradable plastic, Solobo Emotion Friends stand 3.5 inches tall and can be found in sets of six that cover happy, sad, angry, surprised, silly, and anxious, as well as an expansive set of 15 that also includes tired, loved, grateful, overstimulated, frustrated, excited and calm, as well as a rainbow friend that represents mixed emotions. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 47% | Activity: 56% | Freshness: 58% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **3d-printed Educational Toys:** 3D-printed toys offer customizable and durable educational tools that can adapt to various learning objectives and themes. - **Emotion-recognition Play:** Toy makers are integrating emotional recognition into playtime to support children's emotional intelligence development. - **Biodegradable Toy Materials:** The shift towards biodegradable materials in toy production addresses environmental concerns while maintaining safety and durability standards. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Toy Manufacturing:** The toy manufacturing industry is innovating by incorporating advanced 3D printing techniques to create versatile and interactive play experiences. - **Educational Products:** Educational product developers are increasingly focusing on emotional intelligence as a key area for new learning tools. - **Sustainable Plastics:** The sustainable plastics industry supplies eco-friendly materials that meet the safety and functionality demands of modern toys. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Kids' Interactive Sensory Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/interactive-and-multisensory-toys.md) - [Emotional Support Plushies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emotional-support-plushies.md) - [Educational Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/slumberkins.md) - [Playful AI Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snorble.md) - [Emotional Well-Being Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heartfuls.md) - [Emotional Exploration Plushes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emotional-baggage-by-solobo-toys.md) - [Hybrid Educational Toy Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/big-little-feelings.md) - [Mindful Panda Plushie Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pause-with-panda.md) - [Family Storytelling Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kidquest.md)