Tips - Leaving Alone

So my puppy is 4.5 months old. I have been 100% consistent on crate at night and he is wonderful. Sleeps through the night, no accidents unless he has a tummy ache - we’ve had few poop-tastrophes.

But he HATES it during the day - he does nap sometimes when I’m watching but other times he just barking and howling in it. Last week I came home to the tray all the way out of the crate and you could see the crate was rammed into the wall and was chipping the paint.

I bought a gate to put across my kitchen which is all tile and I’d like to try that during the day while I’m at work and see if that helps or if it’s just straight separation anxiety.

Any tips on how to help with the move from crate to kitchen during the day? I will obviously leave him access to food and water which he doesn’t have now. Should I put his crate in the kitchen or just maybe throw his bed in there and toys?

Thanks!