Didactic games (in a foreign language) as means of avtivation of the cognitive component of the communicative competence of the junior pupils

The article touches upon the issue of the pedagogical terms of use of didactic games in classes in foreign languages as means of motivation development and cognition of the junior pupils. It gives a detailed analysis of the scientific perspectives of famous scientists on the didactic power of the game in the educational process in the primary school and their interpretability according to main provisions of the concept of the New Ukrainian School, which main motive is childcentrism in teaching. The central challenge of the New Ukrainian School is realization of main public obligations by teachers and targeting the research of forms, teaching approaches, methods, establishing author programs, diversification of the teaching technologies. Much attention is given to the ways of forming of both classic competences (communicative, cognitive etc.) and new, modern abilities, that create all-round developed personality: leadership, enterprise, foreign language communication, economic literacy, striving on self-expression in education and culture, technical, natural, intercultural, informational, civil-society competence etc. It is investigated that exactly in the age when the primary school student goes through the major phases of personal development, the didactic game is able to create enabling environment for this and to help to overcome the communication barrier in foreign language class. It is spoken in detail about the value of paying attention to the development of the cognitive component of the communicative competence as soon as possible, because a child should know how to take interest in knowledge and to aim for knowledge, which happens through the game. The following conclusions are drawn: the game is called a specific socialization school for children, because on the one hand it is a manifestation of culture of conduct, culture of communication, raising children outside of the game, and on the other hand interesting content of games, representation of teamwork, noble deeds promotes the development of friendship and it's used to bind the group. Such unity of gaming and real interactions helps to establish the moral rectitude of the children's behavior. Didactic games develop children's speech skills, enrich and form mental lexicon.