Mr Elkann is a graduate in industrial engineering, having chosen that subject, he says, because it was more challenging than economics or business, the usual choices of youngsters preparing to take over the family firm.
Yet, beyond warning children not to talk to strangers or to go anywhere with people they do not know, and perhaps cautioning them to avoid deserted streets and unpopulated shortcuts, few youngsters are prepared to prevent an abduction or escape from one.
The youngsters were preparing for the Connecticut Public School Crew Regatta Championships in wind, sleet and snow.
That's what we are trying to achieve with these youngsters, to prepare them not only for a football career but also for reality.
The National Basketball Players Association is trying to help youngsters better prepare themselves for the league, as well as make the right choice about attending college, through its annual Top 100 High School Camp at Virginia Commonwealth University.
ALSO AROUND TOWN BOO! WORKSHOP -- Youngsters can prepare early for Halloween by making an owl mask today and their own castle cap on Saturday in the Staten Island Children's Museum walk-in workshops, 1 to 4 p.m; 1000 Richmond Terrace, near Snug Harbor Road; $2 plus museum admission: $4; children under 2 and museum members free; (718) 27182060.
MAYBE the Boy Scouts were on to something all those years ago when they urged youngsters to "be prepared".
Youngsters should come prepared with a three-minute comedy routine to perform before their parents and peers.
As for the 12A certificate, parents should take their 'advisory' responsibilities seriously; anyone taking youngsters must be prepared to follow Tom's example and be ready with a blindfold and a lullaby.
He spoke of an urgent need for skills development as far too many of India's youngsters are poorly prepared for globally competitive work (though that is a huge mission, since it means fixing a rotten school and university system) and identifying 21 clusters for industrial development.
