I've been reading through the Wayfair stuff from the past day or two & am reminded of why I initially got my son into taekwando. I recommend it for everyone. They'll learn self defense skills for sure, but the best thing they can learn is to yell when someone grabs them.
Many times kids do not say a word because they're too trusting of an adult that approaches them confidently. At our academy, each class has a section that teaches them how to yell and how to break grip. These two things might just save their lives and save you a lot of heartache.
The fist is mightier than the pen. The knife is mightier than the fist. The bullet is mightier than the knife. And yes, you should totally get your kids able to defend themselves.