In the movie Home Alone, an eight-year-old boy single-handedly outsmarts wannabe crooks after his family accidentally leaves him alone at home for days.

That's Hollywood.

In real life, Regina Police Service spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich reminds parents that anyone under the age of 16 is considered a child. She says the ideal age to leave kids depends on their stage of development and ability to handle minor emergencies.

"It may be OK for a 12-year-old to go home after school and be on their own for a few hours, but it's not OK for the parents to go away for the weekend," she says. "It's the parents' responsibility to ensure the child is safe."

Popowich cautions parents not to assume their children will know what to do in an emergency.

"Have emergency numbers posted and in clear view and go over the procedure about when to call 911 and when to call parents," Popowich says.

"If there's a fire, the plan needs to be, 'Get out of the house and go to the neighbour's house and call 911.' Then ensure that the neighbour knows the plan."

She says a fun way to teach home safety is quizzing kids about different scenarios.

"If the phone rings and the caller asks for Dad, 'What can you say that won't let people know you're at home by yourself?' It may be, 'Mom or dad are in the bathroom right now. Can I take a message?'

"For all of us, keep the doors locked when you're at home and ideally don't answer the door unless you can see who is there and you know it's OK."

It's a good idea to keep an exterior light on, she says, and the sound of a radio or television might deter unwanted visitors.

"If there's not a vehicle in the yard, but there are lights on and there's some sound in the house, it can help," Popowich said.

Joelle Schaefer, the child injury prevention co-ordinator with the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, promotes a proactive approach.

"Parents should make an emergency plan with their kids and for their kids when they are alone so they feel comfortable and know what to do," she says.

"Other measures include making sure that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working and children don't have access to any dangerous materials, like alcohol and tobacco, as well as medications, matches and lighters."

She suggests enrolling kids in a babysitting course, which will teach them skills so they can stay by themselves comfortably.

The Canada Safety Council recommends leaving children for an hour to begin with and then gradually increasing the time they spend by themselves.

"Start with short periods of time and see if that's something they feel comfortable with and the parents feel comfortable with," says council spokeswoman Valerie Powell. "The child definitely has to be mature enough to know not to get into trouble and to know what to do while they're home alone and what not to do."

The council also advises parents to set firm rules with clear dos and don'ts, specify how your child is to spend his or her time and limit how long you leave your child at home alone.