Superheroes, animals, princesses, celebrities – regardless of the costume, adults love to see young kids dress up and come knocking on doors for candy.

However, the costumes are not quite as adorable when an older kid, perhaps a 17-year-old is squeezing into a tiny outfit too small and inappropriate to wear anywhere outside of the house. Some teenagers seem to think that going trick-or-treating is a fun way to celebrate Halloween in high school. But for the little kids waiting in long lines to receive one piece of candy, it is unfair to watch the “big kids,” who have been knocking on doors for the past 10 years, get all of the treats.

The adults are missing out on the fun too. They would much rather hear a small child tell a joke than watch an overly-sized high-school student grab a fistful of candy to shove into his bag. Adults may also feel uncomfortable with teens’ chosen outfits. As Mean Girls puts it, “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Well, I am saying something about it. I think we all know what will happen if we shape our lives after the girls in this movie.

So girls, please make the costumes appropriate, even if you make the smart decision to leave the trick-or-treating to kids. Besides, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate Halloween. Passing out candy, throwing a party, or even dressing up are all great options to keep the Halloween spirit without stealing candy from kids or scarring them with revealing costumes. So when you are making Halloween plans this year, try to be considerate of the younger kids and adults who truly love the holiday.