As exx wrote, it is colloquial and yes, you can use a verb after
kind of, just like the example you mention.
I am also putting a link here where you can get more examples and also the meaning.
Kind of: rather: to some (great or small) extent;
"it was rather cold"; "the party was rather nice"; "the knife is rather dull"; "I rather regret that I cannot attend"; "He's rather good at playing the cello"; "he is kind of shy"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Hope it helps!
