Punish a child just a little for being careless (8)

I believe the answer is:

slapdash

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'careless' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'punish a child just a little' is the wordplay.
'punish a child' becomes 'slap' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'just a little' becomes 'dash' (I've seen this before).
'slap'+'dash'='SLAPDASH'

'for being' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for slapdash that I've seen before include "Messy" , "Perfunctory" , "Slipshod, sloppy" , "Cowboy" , "disorganised" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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