Why do children get homesick?

Many children get homesick because they have never before been away from home or mom and dad for a long period of time and it reminds me of a little boy some years back who had pretty red hair and I was asked by the Camp Director to talk to as he was homesick and I was the camp chaplain. I recalled seeing this boy earlier that day at the Nature Lodge talking to and petting the rabbits, and thought humm will it work let's see. I said Jeremy if you leave camp those rabbits you talked to today will become depressed and suicidal and will insist on being cooked by the camp cook. If you will do me a big favor and stay in camp and help me keep our rabbits happy it would help me alot. He agreed and each morning he would go to visit the rabbits and each night before turning into his campsite he would say good night to them.. On Saturday he came to medical to get his medications with his mom and asked for a photograph of himself which she gave him with a curious look. She followed him to the nature lodge where he placed the photo in the first cage and told them not to eat it but it was so they would not feel depressed. She came back to medical and asked who was chaplain green and when I said it was me she said your a nut. I still to this day look to make sure no squirrels are around. But it worked for him.