I have a literal-minded DD, who would totally say, "I wasn't kicking, I hit it with my knee." She wouldn't mean it disrespectfully (though I can't make any claims to her being a respectful sort of child to begin with -- fortunately, her teachers seem to feel she's just fine), but rather as a necessary clarification of an incorrect statement.
On another note, I continually drum into DS the need to make a good first impression because adults tend to take that impression and run with it. I remember a class in high school where the teacher took a liking to me, and afterward I could do no wrong, and at the same time took a disliking to a boy in the class, who then could do no right -- and it made no difference if we were both doing the same thing. Naturally I was happy to take advantage of it, but I thought it a bit unfair to the boy.
