sIn, Just as with any interaction or any level of the game, it's not the progressive actions, it's the TRANSITIONS towards those actions that can sometimes make or break the whole frame. It seems to me that you're trying to go from the playful mode of just fucking around with each other, to something completely more intimate (i.e. cuddling, her sitting on your knee etc). That's like trying to shift from 1st gear to 6th gear with nothing in between... and the result is a huge lurch and a stall out (forgive the car analogy

) In this viewpoint, you guys pushing one another into stuff and basically being facetious is like 1st gear, and if you want to rev it up and hit top speed, sex will most definitely be 6th gear...but you've completely disregarded 2-5!!! So what does this mean as far as your kino goes? Well it's called kino ESCALATION for a reason...it's not a LAUNCH, it has to ESCALATE progressively more and more.
Now for some specifics: I think what's needed here is PROLONGED physical contact. Something that's going to last longer than just a push or shove, so start small. *Have you held hands yet? Simple, yet powerful! and most definitely more prolonged! *Put your arm around her as you guys are walking... and here's a tip for you guys... *when walking on a sidewalk beside a road, INTENTIONALLY start out with her on the road side...then put your hand in the small of her back, and guide her in front of you, as to move her away from the "danger" of the street. This is an old school gentlemanly thing to do and works really effectively if you make an effort for her to notice it. (hence not just starting out with you on the road side). *Other innocent prolonged contact: arm in arm! This is so so simple and I have done this numerous times. Just stick out your arm! She'll know what to do with it. No you don't have to be wearing a tux to do this! I did this walking into the grocery store with a girl on our 2nd date lol!
Sometimes its QUALITY over quantity... *Brush her bangs out of her face and behind her ear. I've done this everywhere from a very first interaction to the few dates after that. It's cute, unexpected, caring, and overall just sexy. Ladies dig this for sure and it helps with intimacy. * take off your jacket and give it to her if she gives a shiver.... these aren't really kino per say but definitely involve an increased level of contact and these actions are just as effective as touching her.
So bottom line, make it progressive... one thing leads to another. A handhold is bigger than no touching at all, a hug is bigger than a handhold, a kiss is bigger than a hug, more and more and more until you reach sex which is the most intimate of all. Start small and build, and the rewards will come back 10fold.