Define the terms of the arithmetic progression.

Let the first term be $a$ and the common difference be $d$.
The first three terms of the arithmetic progression are:
$t_1 = a$
$t_2 = a + d$
$t_3 = a + 2d$

The average of the first three terms is 56.

Substitute the expressions for $t_1, t_2, t_3$:

Divide by 3:

The sum of the first two terms is 96.

Substitute the expressions for $t_1, t_2$:

We have the system:

1. $a + d = 56$
2. $2a + d = 96$

Subtract equation (*1) from equation (*2):

The first term is $a=40$ and the common difference is $d=16$.

The first term is $\boxed{\text{40}}$ and the common difference is $\boxed{\text{16}}$.