I came across this statement in another post:

Are you the fun SO/Dad that everyone wants to be with? (Instead of an emotionless stoic father figure doling out advice and reprimanding)

I'm very much the latter, and it's one of the biggest things I need/want to change.

How can I start addressing this area of my life and become the dad that my kids need me to be?

Not sure if it makes a difference, but I'm divorced and my kids are 9 and 11.