use more zoom not less zoom

Agree with suggestions to read a intro book, but 50 f1.8 is probably a good value choice.

f1.8 means a lot more background blur when aperture wide open (f1.8) than the kit lens (which only opens to around f5.6 when zoomed in)

It also allows photos in much lower light without camera shake (or flash). This was the main benefit for me. 

I found a willing subject for a quick & dirty example:

I'm very much an amateur with cheap equipment, but this was easy to do.  This was with the cheap 50mm f1.8, using Av and setting the aperture to f1.8.  My Canon EOS 40D stopped working, so I put a battery in my old Canon EOS 10D that I had bought brand new in 2003.  This is ancient equipment with a cheap lens, but background blur is pretty darned easy to achieve.

I'd recommend playing around a bit more, especially with positioning of the subject in relation to the background.

There are some great canon lenses out there, the nifty 50 is a good place to start.

This from a 70-200 F4L

This from a 24-105 F4L

Even at f/4 you can get some good bokeh