Children encounter flattery early—from peers who butter them up to get something, from adults who praise them insincerely, from a culture that rewards charm over substance. Parents can help by modeling honest speech: praising what genuinely deserves praise, but not inflating every small achievement. When a parent says, 'That was good, but I think you can do even better,' the child learns that truth, even when less pleasant, is more nourishing than empty sweetness. Equally, parents should watch their own tendency to charm others at the expense of honesty.