Final answer:
Children use a strategy known as overgeneralization to apply new words to objects in the same category, which is part of their natural language development.
Step-by-step explanation:
When learning a new word, children may apply it to other objects in the same category using a strategy known as overgeneralization. This cognitive process is part of how children develop their understanding of language and categories. For instance, when a child learns the word 'dog' for their Labrador retriever, they may start referring to all four-legged, furry animals as dogs. This is a natural part of their lexical development and shows their ability to form conceptual schemas based on new information. As children grow and learn more about their language, they begin to understand the specific exceptions to the general rules they have formed.