This document presents the third of five newsletters on sex education for parents. The newsletters were designed to help parents increase their ability to communicate with their adolescents about sexual issues. They explore the origins of the parents' feelings about sex; teach the importance of a healthy self-concept and how to build it in the adolescent; unravel the physical, social, and emotional mysteries of adolescence; and develop some skills that will help parents talk about sex with their adolescents. The specific goals of this newsletter on puberty and adolescence are to help parents have a better understanding of: (1) the difference between puberty and adolescence; (2) the physical, social, and emotional changes that occur during adolescence; (3) adolescent tasks and characteristics; (4) the myths associated with adolescence; (5) the reproductive and sexual response systems; (6) the myths about masturbation, homosexuality, and nocturnal emission; (7) the process of menstruation; and (8) the connection between self-esteem and the adolescent's ability to handle the pressures and changes of this stage of development. The newsletter is presented in workbook format with spaces provided for parents to write answers to questions and exercises. It concludes with a reference list and a short list of suggested readings for parents. (NB)