Gentle parenting question?

My son is now old enough to understand what we’re saying/asking of him, so it’s is now time to implement some gentle parenting approaches.

My question is when he is upset/mad and having a tantrum, what do I suggest? I want him to be able to feel all of his emotions and feel valid in them, but I also can’t condone hitting, throwing things, screaming, tantrums.

Would saying, “it’s okay to feel mad about (problem). Next time we should try (solution). Hitting/throwing/yelling is not a good way to work through this, we should color/read/play instead.”

Would something like that be allowing him to feel the emotion, while also redirecting the outlet of that emotion? I don’t want to “cover up” anger or sadness with reading or coloring.

Maybe I’m thinking too much into it... we all just want to do our best.

Edit: we always get to the root of something first. If there’s a tantrum, I get on his level and ask how he’s feeling. He’s good at communicating how he’s feeling. Then, I ask what made him feel that way. Most of the time I get an answer, sometimes he’s just in a mood, which is okay too.