Actress Brenda Song is incorporating the classic film Home Alone into lessons for her children about safety and stranger awareness. Together with her fiancé Macaulay Culkin, she introduced their sons Dakota, 4, and Carson, 3, to the 1990 movie recently, using the experience to emphasize important precautions for young kids.
Using a Holiday Classic to Impart Stranger Danger
Brenda Song explained that her children enjoy the fun and clever traps in Home Alone, but still lack a full understanding of the risks involved.
“They love all the hijinks and the traps and stuff,”
she said in an interview with Erin Lim Rhodes from E! News’ The Rundown.
“They have no real concept [of the danger]. My oldest gets it more than my younger son.”
Even so, Song utilized the film’s storyline as a teaching tool. Near the movie’s end, she recalled,
“I remember at the end going, ‘See, your mama’s here right next to you. Don’t you want to give me a hug? I didn’t leave,’”
she told Rhodes.
“I’m so terrible, but I feel like your children have to be a little scared. Fear goes a long way.”
With her children still very young, Song aims to instill caution early on. Alongside her fiancé Culkin, known for his role in Home Alone, she wants to make sure her sons grasp the concept of stranger danger to stay safe in everyday situations.
Teaching Who Counts as a Stranger
Brenda Song laid out clear guidelines for her children about strangers, emphasizing the importance of knowing someone’s name and identity.
“I said, ‘They’re a stranger if you don’t know their name,’”
she explained.
“I was like, ‘It doesn’t matter if they’re someone’s parents. If you don’t know their name, or you’ve never seen them before at our house, they are a stranger.’”
These rules are part of her broader effort to sharpen her sons’ awareness of their surroundings beyond just family and familiar faces.
Building Safety Awareness Beyond the Home
The actress also uses daily outings to reinforce safety habits. For instance, during errands, Song prompts her kids to pay attention to exits and how they got to a location.
“Everywhere we go, I’m like, ‘How do we get home?’”
she shared.
“Every building we go in, like, ‘How did we get here? How do we get out?’ I was teaching them exit signs.”
Despite her thorough approach to caution, Song acknowledged that her partner finds her attentiveness a bit extreme.
“My partner thinks I’m absolutely crazy about it,”
she admitted.
Upcoming Projects and Continued Conversations
Brenda Song’s new movie Operation Taco Gary’s is scheduled to hit theaters on February 27. She also plans to share more about her parenting strategies and family life during upcoming interviews, including her appearance on The Rundown.
Celebrating Family Moments Through the Years
Song and Culkin’s relationship has been well documented with numerous personal highlights and milestones.
In July 2025, the couple embraced a nostalgic ’90s vibe together at Billie Lourd’s 33rd birthday party. Earlier in June 2025, Brenda marked their eighth anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, expressing deep affection for Macaulay Culkin:
“There is still no one who makes me laugh or smile like the way you do. No one who makes me feel more seen, heard or loved.”
She continued,
“My partner in crime, my adventure partner, my best friend, my baby daddy, my favorite everything- thank you,”
adding,
“To be loved by you is the greatest privilege.”
In 2024, the pair showed their support for the Los Angeles Rams by wearing their team colors, demonstrating shared passions outside of their entertainment careers.
Cherished Public Appearances
The couple’s public outings include a rare red carpet date at a Clarins product launch in Los Angeles in March 2024, as well as a colorful birthday celebration for Brenda in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, later that year. In a playful moment, Culkin donned a resort staff T-shirt and pretended to offer towels poolside, followed by acting as a bellhop carrying Brenda’s bags, much to her amusement.
Welcoming Their Sons to the Spotlight
Brenda and Macaulay took their son Dakota to Macaulay’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in December 2023, joined by their younger son Carson. The family beamed together during the public event, celebrating this important career milestone.
Festive Family Traditions
During Halloween 2023, Culkin fully embraced the spooky season while Brenda handed out candy, showcasing their playful side as a couple and parents.
At the GFS Fall Benefit in Santa Monica, California, the couple appeared stylishly together in October 2023, reflecting their continued presence in charitable and industry events.
Relationship Highlights and Support
In January 2022, Brenda and Macaulay confirmed their engagement, with Song recently displaying her ring in Beverly Hills. Their relationship milestones extend further back; in 2020, Brenda shared a loving birthday message for Culkin that conveyed her admiration and gratitude:
“Happy 40th birthday to this magical being,”
she wrote.
“I could sit here and write endlessly about how wonderful, kind, loving, genuine, loyal, honest, brilliant and hilarious you are… My unicorn that I never thought could exist, I am luckiest person in the world because I am loved by you.”
Brenda has also openly supported Culkin’s podcast endeavors, praising him and his colleagues in 2018:
“Guys, I did a podcast with my favorite bunny—podcasters and just 2 of my favorite people,”
she shared online, mentioning @bunnyearspodcast and @mattbennett.
Both have also committed themselves to charitable causes, attending events like the 2018 Stand Up To Cancer telecast in Los Angeles, where they joined forces to raise awareness and support for cancer research.
Building a Secure Future for Their Children
Brenda Song’s focus on using the Home Alone movie as a backdrop for teaching safety reflects a broader, intense dedication to protecting her family. In a world full of uncertainties, she stresses the importance of awareness, caution, and preparedness. Her proactive approach to teaching her sons about recognizing strangers, emergency exits, and safety in unfamiliar places aims to equip them with skills that extend well beyond childhood play.
As these lessons continue, Brenda and Macaulay’s efforts highlight the challenges parents face in keeping their children safe without overwhelming them, all while navigating their own lives in the spotlight. Their family’s story serves as a reminder that even amidst celebrity and celebration, safety and vigilance at home remain a top priority.
