diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/ChildController.cs b/Assets/Scripts/ChildController.cs
index 324ff84..2f33e1d 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/ChildController.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/ChildController.cs
@@ -89,6 +89,18 @@ public class ChildController : MonoBehaviour
                     transform.eulerAngles.z);
             }
         }
+        else {
+            _child.target = null; // no auto targeting when not actively pressing the joystick in a direction
+
+            // if player is not look with the right joystick, then face the direction we're going
+            // if left joystick is used, else we don't change the facing direction
+            if (xValue != 0 || zValue!= 0) {
+                transform.eulerAngles = new Vector3(
+                    transform.eulerAngles.x,
+                    Mathf.Atan2(xValue, zValue) * Mathf.Rad2Deg - 90,
+                    transform.eulerAngles.z);
+            }
+        }
 
         if (input.Ranges.ContainsKey("Throw")) {
             _child.Throw();