Elf Children

[Arwen Evenstar]

I`ve always wonder, how do elves grow up? I`ve always thought of them as growing from children in the same way as men, and just kinda stopping at a certain age. What are you thoughts? [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[Lord of Angmar]

Elves grow up in three stages which I believe last for about 2000-2500 years each (not 100% sure). The first stage is the equivalent of human toddler-to-teen or hobbit children-to-tweens. The second is when they reach their physical maturation and mental pique, and the third is when, presumably, they begin to decline in physical stature and can even begin to grow facial hair (Cirdan the Shipwright, probably the oldest Elf in Middle-earth circa the War of the Ring, had a great beard). Elf children, in this three-stage scenario, obviously take much longer to reach the zenith of their physical and mental ability, but theirs is a higher crest than that of other races.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 8:10 PM January 11, 2004: Message edited by: Lord of Angmar ]

[Lalaith]

Here you go, this quote should give you some help:
OF THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS AMONG THE ELDAR
PERTAINING TO MARRIAGE AND OTHER MATTERS
RELATED THERETO: TOGETHER WITH THE
STATUTE OF FINWE AND MIRIEL AND THE DEBATE
OF THE VALAR AT ITS MAKING.

AElfwine's Preamble.

The Eldar grew in bodily form slower than Men, but in mind
more swiftly. They learned to speak before they were one year
old; and in the same time they learned to walk and to dance, for
their wills came soon to the mastery of their bodies. Nonetheless
there was less difference between the two Kindreds, Elves and
Men, in early youth; and a man who watched elf-children at play might well have believed that they were the children of
Men, of some fair and happy people. For in their early days
elf-children delighted still in the world about them, and the fire
of their spirit had not consumed them, and the burden of
memory was still light upon them.
This same watcher might indeed have wondered at the small
limbs and stature of these children, judging their age by their
skill in words and grace in motion. For at the end of the third
year mortal children began to outstrip the Elves, hastening on to
a full stature while the Elves lingered in the first spring of
childhood. Children of Men might reach their full height while
Eldar of the same age were still in body like to mortals of no
more than seven years. Not until the fiftieth year did the Eldar
attain the stature and shape in which their lives would after-
wards endure, and for some a hundred years would pass before
they were full-grown.

[Gashberz]

I always emagined a D&D sort of thing were their born form year 1 to 700 years old or how long they live.

[Legolas]

As Lalaith's HoME quote says, elves matured around age 50 (in case you're too lazy to read through it).

[Arwen Evenstar]

Too lazy to read through it? Of course not! I love reading!
Anyway, thanks for the help guys/girls! That question has been bothering me for quite some time!