A man accused of grabbing a child on the arm at an Adelaide shopping centre has been charged and refused police bail.

The 30-year-old from Ottoway, in Adelaide's north-western suburbs, is accused of aggravated assault inside the K-Mart store at the West Lakes Shopping Centre yesterday afternoon.

He was due to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates court.

The child was with two other children and broke free from the man and raised the alarm, police alleged.

They said the children were not injured.