I remember throwing the football with my sons when they were seven and 10 and telling my wife afterward, "I don't think they would ever come inside if I didn't make them." Back then, staying close felt effortless. They wanted me in the yard as much as I wanted to be there. If someone would have told me back then that one day I would have to work to stay connected to my kids, I wouldn't have believed them. After all, these kids love their daddy, and their daddy loves them. But somewhere along the way there's a natural slow fade for most kids. Kids want their friends, their space, their independence. And honestly, a little more downtime sounds pretty good to dads too. But staying engaged as they get older matters more than ever; we just have to adjust how we do it. Here are 6 ways to stay close to your kids as they get older. 1. Do what they like to do. The football-in-the-yard stage doesn't last forever, and that's OK. If your kid shifts to gamin...